A cartoonist takes Japan’s new imperial succession law to court over male-only heirs

TOKYO (AP) — A popular Japanese cartoonist who has written books on history and monarchy has sued the government over a revised imperial succession law allowing royals to adopt male relatives from former branch families to father future heirs.

The revised law took effect Saturday despite criticism over the male-only succession rules in Japan's 1,500-year-old monarchy. Next in line after Emperor Naruhito is his younger brother Akishino, followed by the emperor's 20-year-old nephew, Prince Hisahito. There are no other eligible heirs in his generation.

The revised law allows adoption of unmarried male descendants, aged 15 or older, of distant imperial relatives, but only through an unbroken male line, into a branch of the royal family. They would not be able to inherit the throne themselves, but their heirs would be eligible.

Four of the 11 former branch families who renounced their royal status in 1947 remain. Officials say they are at least 36 generations removed from Naruhito after splitting from a common male-line ancestor 600 years ago. Critics say they are too distant to be considered relatives.

In his lawsuit, Yoshinori Kobayashi says the adoption of former royals, who are commoners, discriminates against other commoners in violation of Article 14 of the constitution, which guarantees equality regardless of “race, creed, sex, social status or family origin.”

"The adoption would introduce a new class system of ‘former imperial branch family’ in Japan. ... It's a serious problem," Kobayashi told reporters after filing the lawsuit with the Tokyo District Court, a first legal step against the revised law. No trial date has been set.

He said the adoption system undermines “the fundamental value of the constitution ... and changes the monarchy into something completely different.”

The law lets princesses retain their royal status and continue with their official duties after marrying commoners, but does not confer royal status on their husbands and children. It effectively eliminates a chance for Japan’s beloved Princess Aiko to succeed her father, Naruhito.

Kobayashi calls it the “Aiko-sama exclusion law.”

The male-only succession policy was pushed by the conservative government of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, who has said only the paternal bloodline gives authority and legitimacy to the emperor.

Legal experts, including those on a government panel on the imperial succession, have also raised concerns over the constitutionality of the adoption system.

Kobayashi's lawyer, Rintaro Kuramochi, said winning the case would be difficult, but there was no other way to raise the issue in Japan, where there is no constitutional court and little hope for the law to be rectified by the current government.

In the lawsuit, Kobayashi also demanded damages of 1 million yen ($6,350) for psychological suffering experienced by the manga artist whose works are based on his love of Japan's monarchy, equal rights and other democratic values.

Japan has had eight female monarchs. The paternal-line male succession was introduced for the first time in the 1890 Imperial House Law, when Japan promoted patriarchal systems of male superiority.

A man walks past the Tokyo District Court in Tokyo, Monday, Oct. 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

Japanese manga artist Yoshinori Kobayashi, center, who has written books on history and monarchy, arrives at the Tokyo District Court in Tokyo, Monday, Oct. 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

Japanese manga artist Yoshinori Kobayashi, who has written books on history and monarchy, arrives at the Tokyo District Court in Tokyo, Monday, Oct. 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

Japanese manga artist Yoshinori Kobayashi, left, who has written books on history and monarchy, gestures as he arrives at the Tokyo District Court in Tokyo, Monday, Oct. 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

Japanese manga artist Yoshinori Kobayashi, who has written books on history and monarchy, arrives at the Tokyo District Court in Tokyo, Monday, Oct. 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

If you love sports, Oct. 26, 2026, will be tough to beat.

Five professional leagues in North America are in action at the same time on Monday night, a phenomena known as a sports equinox.

Major League Baseball and the NFL will compete for the most viewers while the NBA, WNBA and NHL give their diehard fans games to watch.

Monday marks the 33rd sports equinox, the first since Oct. 27, 2025 and the fourth instance with women's professional basketball included, according to Sportradar.

Here's a guide to attempt to sample a little bit of this and that in the sports smorgasbord:

The Tampa Bay Rays will host the Milwaukee Brewers in Game 3 of the World Series with the first pitch scheduled for 8 p.m. EDT on Fox.

The Brewers won the first two games by one run, taking a 2-0 lead in the best-of-7 series.

Even though the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys both have 2-4 records, the NFL always draws a lot of interest and millions will be watching the NFC East matchup when it kicks off at 8:15 p.m. on ESPN.

The Eagles have lost four in a row, reeling with quarterback Jalen Hurts on injured reserve because of blood clots. The Cowboys have won only one of their last four games.

By the time the baseball and football game start, we'll know if reigning NBA Rookie of the Year Cooper Flagg is returning to a lineup from an injury that is expected to include banged-up Kyrie Irving for the Dallas Mavericks on the road against the Miami Heat. The game tips off at 7:30 p.m. on NBA TV.

In the middle of the World Series and “Monday Night Football,” the NBA will have an intriguing matchup to compete for attention. Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors travel to face Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets at 10 p.m. on NBCSN and Peacock.

The WNBA is vying for eyeballs against MLB, the NFL, NBA and NHL for the first time since 2000, when the league did it three times in September of that year.

The Golden State Valkyries are hosting Angel Reese and the Atlanta Dream in Game 5 of the WNBA Finals at 8 p.m. on USA Network, CNBC and Peacock. The best-of-7 series is tied at two games apiece.

The NHL will have some of its top scorers skating in three games.

The New York Rangers, with high-scoring Alexis Lafreniere, will host one of their former stars, Artemi Panarin, and the Los Angeles Kings at 7 p.m. on the NHL Network.

Edmonton star Leon Draisaitl of Germany has a shot to become the first NHL player born outside of North America to score at least two goals in four straight games when Connor McDavid and the Oilers host the Detroit Red Wings at 9:30 p.m. on ESPN+ and Sportsnet.

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See AP’s full sports report here

Edmonton Oilers' Evan Bouchard (2), Leon Draisaitl (29) and Connor McDavid (97) celebrate after Draisaitl's goal against the Toronto Maple Leafs during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Edmonton, Alberta, Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026. (Codie McLachlan/The Canadian Press via AP)

Atlanta Dream guard Rhyne Howard (10) celebrates scoring during the first half of Game 3 of the WNBA basketball finals against the Golden State Valkyries on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg (32) talks with guard Kyrie Irving (11) as forward P.J. Washington (25) looks on during the second half of a preseason NBA basketball game against the Atlanta Hawks in Dallas, Friday, Oct. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Tampa Bay Rays' Jonathan Aranda celebrates a double during the fifth inning of Game 2 of baseball's World Series, Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026, in Milwaukee, between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Tampa Bay Rays. (AP Photo/Kayla Wolf)