Prince Hisahito Becomes Japan's First Royal Male to Turn 18 in 40 Years

Post by : Elena Malik

Photo : X

On Friday, Prince Hisahito, the son of Crown Prince Akishino, celebrated his 18th birthday, becoming the first male member of Japan's imperial family to reach adulthood in nearly 40 years. This event represents a significant milestone for the imperial family, which has ruled Japan for over a millennium, but now faces contemporary challenges such as a rapidly aging and declining population.

Prince Hisahito, who is the nephew of Japanese Emperor Naruhito and second in line to the throne, joined the ranks of adulthood, following in the footsteps of his father, Crown Prince Akishino, who reached adulthood in 1985. Hisahito’s transition to adulthood is noteworthy given that he is the first male royal to do so since the birth of his father’s generation.

In a statement released by the Imperial Household Agency, Prince Hisahito expressed his eagerness to embrace new experiences and grow from them. He conveyed his gratitude to his family, including his parents and sisters, Princess Mako Komuro, who left the imperial family upon marriage, and Princess Kako. Hisahito also expressed his intention to focus on his remaining time in high school and work diligently towards his future.

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Currently, Prince Hisahito is a third-year student at the University of Tsukuba’s Senior High School in Tokyo. Traditionally, a Coming-of-Age Ceremony and press conference would mark such an occasion; however, Hisahito’s ceremony has been postponed until spring 2025 or later to avoid conflicting with his academic commitments.

At 18, Prince Hisahito is the youngest member of the 17-member imperial family, which includes only four men. His position as the last male heir poses a challenge to Japan’s succession laws, which currently prohibit women from ascending the throne. The 1947 Imperial House Law stipulates that only males can inherit the throne and requires female royals who marry commoners to renounce their titles.

Aside from Prince Hisahito and Crown Prince Akishino, the only other direct successor to the Chrysanthemum Throne is Prince Hitachi, the 88-year-old childless uncle of Emperor Naruhito. The scarcity of male heirs and the stringent succession laws continue to be a point of discussion and concern within Japanese society.

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