The shortage of male offspring had prompted discussions earlier this year by politicians of changing the law to allow a female sovereign, as is the case in many European monarchies.

• 由于没有子嗣来继承皇位，今年早些时候日本一些政客进行了一次讨论，想要改变日本现行的法律，效法欧洲君主国家允许皇室女性继承王位。