Emperor Naruhito of Japan admits his family is running out of heirs - as monarchy faces crisis due to ageing members and rule that women can't ascend the throne

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Emperor Naruhito of Japan has admitted his family is running out of heirs amid an ongoing crisis for the monarchy. 

Japan's strict laws of succession forbid women from ascending to the Chrysanthemum Throne and force them to give up their titles if they marry commoners.

Meanwhile, many of the royal family are ageing - with eight members over 60, while only four members of the family are male. 

Speaking ahead of a state visit to Britain next week with his wife Empress Masako, Emperor Naruhito, 64, made a rare comment about the crisis facing the imperial household. 

He said on Wednesday: 'The number of male members of the imperial family is decreasing, they are ageing, and female members of the imperial family leave the imperial family upon marriage.'

Emperor Naruhito of Japan has admitted his family is running out of heirs amid an ongoing crisis for the monarchy

If the marriage was to a prince, they could stay within the family - the trouble is that there are no fellow male royals for them to wed.  

'Due to these factors, the number of members of the imperial family who can take on public duties is decreasing compared to before,' he continued. 

'This is a problem that relates to the future of the imperial family, but I would like to refrain from commenting on matters related to the [legal] system.'

His comments make for a rare insight into the royal dynasty, as emperors have avoided discussing items of political importance since Japan's defeat in the Second World War.  

The slimmed down state of the Japanese monarchy is partly due to male primogeniture rules, meaning only male members of the royal family can succeed the throne. 

Only four out of 16 members of Naruhito's family are male, following Emperor Emeritus Akihito's abdication in 2019. 

Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako share only one child, Princess Aiko, who was born in 2001 after fertility treatment. However, she cannot take the country's throne.  

This means the heir to the throne is Naruhito's younger brother, Crown Prince Fumihito, 58. 

His son, 17-year-old Prince Hisahito and Naruhito's uncle Prince Hitachi, 88, are the only other male figures of the dynasty. 

Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako share only one child, Princess Aiko - but she isn't allowed to rule

The heir to the throne is Crown Prince Fumihito, the Emperor's brother and one of only four male royals

Female royals are forced to give up their status if they marry a commoner. Pictured: Princess Mako and her husband Kei Komuro in a press conference to announce their marriage in 2021

Fumihito shares a daughter, Princess Kako, 29, with his wife Crown Princess Kiko, 57 - but she is also not allowed to inherit the throne. 

Fumihito also has two other children - Prince Hisahito of Akishino, 17, and Mako Komuro, 32 - who gave up her title after marrying her husband Kei Komuro.

The country's strict laws of succession forbid women from ascending to the Chrysanthemum Throne and force them to give up their titles if they marry commoners - seen most recently in Princess Mako's wedding. 

However, 90 per cent of the public support a change to the law to allow women to ascend the throne, according to a recent poll. 

Conservative members of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party oppose the changes and they are yet to be instated. 

In addition, the Japanese monarchy are ageing - with eight of them being over 60. For example, Princess Yuriko celebrated her 101st birthday two weeks ago. 

These means that royal duties are spread thinly between the increasingly few numbers of working royals. 

In Japan, these include receiving dignitaries, taking part in Shinto ceremonies and visiting schools and hospitals. 

Japan's crisis is partly due to the royals ageing. Pictured is the Emperor's uncle Prince Hitachi, who is 88

Meanwhile Princess Yuriko, wife of the late Prince Mikasa, celebrated her 101st birthday last week

Last month Japanese politicians debated solutions to resolve the crisis, which did not include allowing women to rule. 

Instead, options included allowing princesses to remain in the royal family after marriage and bringing back descendants of former cadet branches into the fold, who lost their royal status after World War Two.  

This still would not increase the number of heirs, as the LDP insists princess' children should not be allowed to rule. 

Princess Mako is the most recent example of female royals who have given up royal life in order to marry. 

In October 2021, she gave up her royal title to marry her commoner boyfriend in a move that sharply divided public opinion.

Mako, the eldest daughter of Crown Prince Fumihito and niece of reigning Emperor Naruhito, tied the knot with her university sweetheart Kei Komuro, a commoner, in Tokyo after an eight-year engagement.

The low-key ceremony was met with protests, and was held behind closed doors without any of the pomp and pageantry of other Japanese royal weddings, which traditionally include a reception and banquet. 

The decision led to comparisons with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, who also turned their backs on royal duties to live privately in the US. 

Japan's Emperor Naruhito, Empress Masako, left, and their daughter Princess Aiko pose during a family photo session for New Year at the Imperial Palace in December 2023

Japanese Crown Prince Akishino (R), Crown Princess Kiko (C) and Princess Kako (L)

Princess Mako was forced to give up royal life in 2021 when she married Kei Komuro

In November last year, Emperor Naruhito called for a review of official duties because members are either leaving due to age or marrying a commoner, according to the Japan Times.

'It would be difficult to pass on (official duties) if the number (of imperial family members) decreases,' the crown prince told journalists in Tokyo.

The royal expressed his grief for those who lost their lives in the 7.6 magnitude disaster on New Year's Day, which killed 241 people and saw more than 12,000 forced to flee their homes.

'I would like once again to express my condolences to those who lost their lives in the Noto Peninsula earthquake last month and to convey my heartfelt sympathy to the bereaved families and those who were affected by the disaster,' he said.

'I wish every one of you a peaceful spring.'

In February, Emperor Naruhito used his 64th birthday address to make a poignant speech to victims of the New Year's Day Earthquake

Naruhito appeared solemn during the address, sporting a black blazer and white shirt and tie for the occasion.

Meanwhile, it has been revealed that the Japanese state visit to the UK next week will not include the traditional trip to Downing Street to see the Prime Minister, as it coincides with the general election campaign. 

However, Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer are still expected to attend the formal banquet at Buckingham Palace, despite having a TV debate the following evening. 

Meanwhile the British royal family has postponed any engagements that may 'appear to divert attention or distract from the election campaign'. Other engagements are still allowed to go ahead.