Japan revises imperial law for sustainable system, keeps male-line throne

TOKYO - Japan's parliament on Friday revised the Imperial House Law to address the issue of the shrinking royal family, while retaining the long-standing male-only succession system, despite public support for female emperors.

The first substantive revision to the 1947 law introduced two changes -- permitting the adoption of males from former imperial branch families and allowing female members to retain their imperial status even after marrying commoners.