Suga says male-only rule should be prioritized in imperial succession Sorry, but your browser needs Javascript to use this site. If you're not sure how to activate it, please refer to this site: https://www.enable-javascript.com/ Emperor Naruhito, Empress Masako and other imperial family members wave to the crowd gathered at the Imperial Palace on Jan. 2, 2020. | KYODO Kyodo Jan 3, 2021 Japan's male-only succession rule should take precedence in discussions on how to achieve a stable imperial succession, Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said on a radio program aired Sunday. "Under current circumstances, male-only succession should be given priority," Suga said in a prerecorded radio show broadcast by Nippon Broadcasting System Inc., referring to the long tradition of male succession. The program was recorded on Dec. 18.