June 20, 2025 Why Japan’s 2,000-year imperial family may not survive this century

Japan’s imperial family: Too old to modernize? Japan’s imperial family is the world’s oldest monarchy — but is it still relevant in 2025? With just three heirs, no reigning empress allowed and billions of yen in taxpayer support, the future of the institution is far from secure. In this episode of Japan Today Spotlight, we look at the gender rules, political silence and shrinking lineup facing Japan’s royals. We also examine the powerful role of the Imperial Household Agency and the public’s growing questions about what purpose the monarchy serves today. 🎙️ Hosted by JEFF RICHARDS 📍 Produced in Tokyo by JAPAN TODAY and GPlusMedia 📺 This episode first appeared on the Japan Today YouTube channel:

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June 20, 2025 Why Japan’s 2,000-year imperial family may not survive this century is an episode from Japan Today by Japan This Week.

This episode is 00:22:41 long.

This episode was published on Jun 20, 2025.

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