日本皇太子秋篠宫对政府坚持皇位仅由男性继承的决定表示"矛盾复杂"[1]。由首相高市早苗领导的保守政府推动了这项涉及《皇室典范》的历史性修订，但该举措因排除了皇帝德仁极受欢迎的24岁女儿爱子内亲王的继承资格而遭到广泛批评[1]。皇太子指出"男女在服侍皇室角色上没有差别"[1]，但由于身份限制，他未能直接批评该法案。
根据修订后的继承顺序，皇位将依次传承给秋篠宫、其19岁侄子悠仁王子，以及90岁的皇帝叔父[1]。新规定允许女性皇族成员与平民结婚后保持身份并履行皇族职责，但其丈夫和子女将失去皇族身份[1]。历史上日本曾有8位女性天皇，最后一位是後樱町天皇（1762-1770年在位）[1]。男系继承制的规定最初在1890年的《皇室典范》中确立[1]。
Crown Prince Akishino has stated that he holds "mixed feelings" about the government's decision to maintain a male-only imperial succession system through revisions to Japan's Imperial House Law.[1] The conservative government pushed through this historically significant amendment, which has drawn widespread criticism for excluding Aiko, the 24-year-old daughter of Emperor Naruhito, from the line of succession despite her popularity.[1]
The Crown Prince indicated his belief that men and women have "no difference" in their capacity to serve imperial roles, though his position as heir prevented him from directly criticizing the legislation.[1] Under the revised succession order, the Crown Prince would be followed by his 19-year-old nephew Prince Hisahito, then a 90-year-old imperial uncle.[1] The amendment does permit female imperial family members to remain in their status and continue royal duties after marrying commoners, though their spouses and children would lose imperial standing.[1]
Japan has a historical precedent for female rulers, with eight women having ascended to the throne in the past; the most recent was Empress Go-Sakuramachi, who reigned from 1762 to 1770.[1] The restriction to male-line succession was first formally codified in the 1890 Imperial House Law.[1]