Princess Aiko, the 22-year-old daughter of Emperor Naruhito, faces a life wedded to public duty - but, as current laws stand, she'll never be able to take to the country's Chrysanthemum Throne.

The Japanese imperial family is considered to be the world's oldest monarchy, with an unbroken line of male succession that can be traced back two millennia. Mythology, recognised by the Imperial ...

If only men are allowed to inherit the throne, then the monarchy does not represent all Japanese people. The concept of a monarchy is already considered archaic and outdated by many around the world.

The monarchy is closely entwined with Shintoism, the traditional religion of Japan, which places huge emphasis ... Fumihito had another child and this time it was a boy so the changes were put ...