The Japanese Government has introduced a new proposal, enabling female members of the Imperial family to establish their own Imperial branches after their marriage to commoners, amid concerns over the falling number of royal household members.
The government proposal states that the establishment of female Imperial branches “should be considered” only for daughters and granddaughters of emperors.

The proposal, which clarifies points for upcoming discussions concerning the status of female Imperial family members, also lists both ideas to give and not to give Imperial status to the husband and children of a princess who establishes her own Imperial branch, the Japan Times reports.

According to the paper, the matter has come into focus due to concerns over the Imperial family not being able to maintain its activities in a stable manner, thanks to the large number of female members compared with male members.

The proposal says that retaining the title of ‘princess’ after marriage to allow them to engage in Imperial activities, and therefore, mentions an idea to give such female Imperial family members status as ‘national public servants’ to remain involved in royal activities, the paper said.

The original Imperial Household Law required female members of the Imperial family to relinquish their Imperial status after marriage to commoners. The government will take public comments on the proposal over a period of about two months before making a draft amendment to the existing law, the paper added.