Japan's Imperial Law Reinforcing Male Succession Takes Effect

• Japan's revised Imperial House Law enforcing male-only succession rules took effect on Saturday.
• The law, enacted in July, is the first major revision of the 1947 law.
• The legislation allows the imperial family to adopt males aged 15 or older from 11 former imperial branch families.
• Public support exists for female emperors, but the law maintains the traditional male-only succession system.
• The law aims to address Japan's shrinking imperial family.