Steps to sustain Japan imperial family leave aides concerned, public split

TOKYO - Officials and staff who work in support of Japan's imperial family are facing unprecedented uncertainty as to how their duties in the royal system will be affected by the country's legal change aimed at making the world's oldest hereditary monarchy sustainable.

The move has also split public opinion and prompted many to express concern about entering uncharted territory. Both Imperial Household Agency officials and ordinary Japanese, however, welcome aspects of the revised Imperial House Law, such as allowing men from former imperial branch families to be adopted and letting princesses retain their royal status after marriage to commoners.