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Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has sent a ritual offering to Tokyo's Yasukuni shrine on the 81st anniversary of World War II's conclusion, with Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi also visiting the war-linked site.
Japan has enacted legislation banning flag desecration, prompting comparisons with varied approaches worldwide. The move has sparked concerns about rising nationalism and freedom of expression.
Japan's parliament has passed significant amendments to its Imperial House Law, permitting male adoption from former branch families and allowing female royals to retain status after marriage to commoners. The male-only succession remains unchanged.
Japan's parliament has reformed imperial succession laws by allowing adoption of distant male relatives, yet maintains the constitutional bar preventing women from becoming emperor—a decision that contradicts strong public support for female succession.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's approval rating has slipped below 50 per cent for the first time since taking office in October, according to a Jiji Press poll, marking a significant political shift.
Japan's parliament has rapidly passed legislation to reform its Imperial House Law for the first time in over 75 years, permitting adoptions from former imperial branch families and allowing female members to retain imperial status after marriage.