Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi reiterated on Tuesday that his government will submit a bill to revise the Imperial House Law during the current regular Diet session in an attempt to pave the way for female monarchs in Japan, Kyodo News reported.

Koizumi's remarks followed the pregnancy of Princess Kiko, the wife of Emperor Akihito's second son Prince Akishino, was announced earlier in the day, which is set to intensify the national debate over whether to allow females to ascend Japan's imperial throne.

Koizumi said he made the decision to raise the bill after taking fully into consideration the possibility that a boy could be born to the Japanese royal family in the future, according to Kyodo.

"If Princess Kiko's expected baby is a male, he will be the third in line to the throne after Crown Prince Naruhito, 45, and Prince Akishino, 40, under the current Imperial House Law which allows only male heirs who have emperors on their fathers' side to reign," he said.

Earlier in the day, Koizumi told a Diet session that the bill to revise the law is timed to enable Princess Aiko to be raised and educated with the awareness that she will ascend the throne in the future.

It was the first time Koizumi has referred to the reason his government is seeking to enact the controversial legislation during the ongoing Diet session through June 18.

Source: Xinhua