Yoshinori Kobayashi, a well-known Japanese cartoonist, has filed a lawsuit against the government opposing a new law that permits the Imperial family to adopt males from former imperial branches as heirs. He warns this risks creating social classes and violates the principle of equality under the law.
On 27 Oct 2026 GMT+7, Yoshinori Kobayashi, a prominent Japanese cartoonist known for works on history and the Imperial family, filed a lawsuit at the Tokyo District Court opposing the amended Imperial succession law. The law allows the Imperial family to adopt males from former imperial branches to maintain male-line succession.
Kobayashi stated that admitting former imperial family members, now commoners, into the Imperial family could create a new social class and discriminate against other commoners. This violates Article 14 of the constitution, which guarantees equality without discrimination based on race, religion, gender, social status, or birth. He believes this system undermines the constitution's core principles and alters the nature of Japan's monarchy.
The law also permits princesses to retain their imperial status and perform official duties after marrying commoners, but does not grant imperial status to their husbands or children. Kobayashi calls this the “Princess Aiko Exclusion Law,” referring to Princess Aiko, the only daughter of Emperor Naruhito.
The conservative government under Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi supports male-line succession, viewing the male bloodline as key to imperial legitimacy. Some legal experts and government advisory committee members have raised constitutional concerns about the adoption system.
The amended law took effect last Saturday despite criticism from opponents of limiting succession to males. It allows the adoption of single males aged 15 or older, descended in the male line from former imperial branches without interruption, to become Imperial family members.
Kobayashi's lawyer acknowledges that winning the case is difficult but sees it as an important way to bring this issue into the judicial process, especially since Japan lacks a constitutional court and the current government is unlikely to amend the law.
Currently, the next in line after Emperor Naruhito is his younger brother, Prince Akishino, followed by Prince Hisahito, Akishino's 20-year-old son. There are no other qualified male heirs of the same generation. Of 11 former imperial branches that lost royal status in 1947, only four remain. Officials say members of these branches are at least 36 generations removed from Emperor Naruhito, having diverged about 600 years ago. Critics argue they are too distant to be considered close relatives.
Source: AP