Prince Hisahito of Akishino

2.1. Birth

Prince Hisahito was born at 08:27 JST (23:27 UTC) on 6 September 2006, at Aiiku Hospital in Tokyo. His birth was by Caesarean section, two weeks earlier than expected, due to complications during the pregnancy, including placenta praevia. His birth weight was 0.1 K oz ^{(2.56 K g)}, and he measured 19 in ^{(48.8 cm)} at birth. This marked the first Caesarean section delivery in the history of the Imperial Family. It was also the first time an imperial birth occurred outside the Imperial Palace's traditional birthing hall or the Imperial Household Agency Hospital.

Hisahito's personal name, chosen by his father, Crown Prince Fumihito, means "serene and virtuous," or "virtuous, calm, everlasting" (悠仁^Japanese). The name was presented on a traditional Japanese handmade paper within a paulownia wood box placed beside his pillow. His personal emblem, the Japanese umbrella-pine (kōyamaki), was chosen to convey the wish for him to grow "big and straight." He is affectionately called "Yuyu" by his family.

On the day of his birth, the traditional Sword Bestowal Ceremony (Shiken-no-Gi) was held, during which his grandfather, Emperor Akihito, presented him with a guardian sword crafted by the swordsmith Amada Akitsugu. The Naming Ceremony (Meimei-no-Gi) took place on 12 September. When he was discharged from Aiiku Hospital on 15 September 2006, approximately 1,800 people gathered along the route to the Akasaka Estate, and a security detail of 1,200 police and riot police was deployed.

2.2. Family

Prince Hisahito is the third and youngest child, and the only son, of Crown Prince Fumihito and Crown Princess Kiko. His father, Crown Prince Fumihito, is the younger brother of Emperor Naruhito and the second son of Emperor Emeritus Akihito and Empress Emerita Michiko.

He has two older sisters:

• Mako Komuro (born 23 October 1991), who renounced her imperial title upon her marriage to Kei Komuro in 2021.
• Princess Kako of Akishino (born 29 December 1994).

Prince Hisahito's birth marked the first male birth in the Imperial Family since his father's birth in 1965, a gap of 40 years and 9 months. This event was highly significant for the Japanese Imperial succession.

3.1. Kindergarten and Elementary School

In the spring of 2010, at the age of three years and seven months, Prince Hisahito began his education at the kindergarten affiliated with Ochanomizu University in Tokyo. His admission was facilitated by a special enrollment system designed to support female researchers, as his mother, Crown Princess Kiko, conducts research activities at the university. This choice marked a significant departure from the tradition of Imperial Family members attending Gakushūin Primary School, making him the first member of the Imperial House to receive his elementary education at a school other than Gakushūin.

On 14 December 2012, the Imperial Household Agency announced that Prince Hisahito would continue his education at Ochanomizu University Elementary School, starting in April 2013, allowing him to remain with many of his kindergarten friends. He formally entered the elementary school on 7 April 2013, attending the entrance ceremony with his parents. By his second year, reports indicated he was performing well academically, actively assisting first-year pupils, and enjoying playful interactions with his friends.

Following his graduation from Ochanomizu University Affiliated Kindergarten on 14 March 2013, Prince Hisahito, accompanied by his parents, paid respects at the Musashi Imperial Mausoleum (Emperor Shōwa's mausoleum) and the Musashino Higashi Mausoleum (Empress Kōjun's mausoleum). From 25 to 26 March, he also visited the Ise Grand Shrine.

3.2. Junior High and High School

In April 2019, Prince Hisahito enrolled in Ochanomizu University Junior High School. During his time there, on 26 April 2019, a security incident occurred where a fruit knife was found on his classroom desk. The perpetrator was later arrested and sentenced to a suspended prison term, reportedly confessing dissatisfaction with the Imperial Family and an intent to stab the prince.

In August 2019, he accompanied his parents on his first official overseas visit to Bhutan. During this trip, they met with the King and Queen of Bhutan, visited the National Museum, and Prince Hisahito even practiced archery at the King's archery range.

In March 2021, Prince Hisahito was awarded a second-place prize in the junior high student category of Kitakyushu's 12th Children's Nonfiction Literature Awards for his essay, "Visiting the Ogasawara Islands." However, in February 2022, he faced allegations of plagiarism regarding this essay. The Imperial Household Agency and Prince Hisahito acknowledged that the essay's citations were "inadequate" and stated that the prince would contact the award organizers with revisions. The award was not revoked, and a revised version of the essay with added references and annotations was published online in April 2022.

In April 2022, Prince Hisahito was enrolled in University of Tsukuba Senior High School. His admission was through a special partnership system with Ochanomizu University Affiliated Junior High School, based on his "excellent academic performance" and successful completion of a five-subject academic test, alongside general applicants. This choice was made after careful consideration and discussions with his parents, as Ochanomizu High School is exclusively for female students.

On 1 October 2022, Prince Hisahito made his first solo visit to the Ise Grand Shrine in Mie Prefecture, marking his second visit overall to the shrine. He also visited the Jingu Art Museum in Ise City to view a special exhibition of cultural assets related to Ise Grand Shrine and the Shōsōin.

On 29 July 2023, he accompanied his father, Crown Prince Fumihito, on his first regional official duty, attending the opening ceremony of the Kagoshima Sōbun-sai (National High School Comprehensive Cultural Festival). He made a second such appearance on 31 July 2024, accompanying his parents to the Gifu Sōbun-sai opening ceremony.

On 25 August 2024, Prince Hisahito, along with his parents, privately attended the opening ceremony of the 27th International Congress of Entomology in Kyoto. The following day, 26 August, he presented a poster on his joint research regarding dragonfly ecology in the Imperial Palace, demonstrating his active engagement in scientific pursuits. During a discussion with a German researcher, he impressed with his specialized questions, asking in English, "How many Japanese species are in this?"

On 6 September 2024, Prince Hisahito celebrated his 18th birthday, officially becoming an adult member of the Imperial Family. This event marked the first time in 39 years that a male member of the Imperial Family reached adulthood since his father, Crown Prince Fumihito. In a written statement released before his birthday, he expressed gratitude to his family and those who have supported him, stating his intention to reflect on his duties and strive to fulfill his role as an adult Imperial Family member. On the same day, he paid his respects to Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako at the Imperial Palace and to Emperor Emeritus Akihito and Empress Emerita Michiko at the Sento Imperial Residence, conveying his appreciation.

4.1. Personality and Hobbies

Prince Hisahito is known for his friendly and approachable demeanor. From a young age, he displayed an active and curious personality. At three years old, he enjoyed playing with balls and roller skating, and was already learning to eat and dress himself independently. He has also been described as a good student who enjoys playing with his friends.

His interests include outdoor activities such as mountain climbing and skiing. He has a particular fascination with dragonflies and has actively pursued research in this area. Additionally, he has engaged in practical activities such as cultivating rice paddies and vegetables in the garden of the Akishino Residence, a hobby he shares with his family. He was also a member of his school's cultivation committee, responsible for watering flowerbeds and other related tasks.

4.2. Anecdotes

Prince Hisahito's first birthday was notably celebrated under the public eye, with media coverage. On this occasion, a commemorative photo showed white baby shoes gifted by his grandparents, Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko, displayed beside a sofa.

When he was 10 years old, he attended a sumo wrestling match at Ryōgoku Kokugikan in Tokyo as part of a school outing, where he also enjoyed eating chanko (sumo wrestler's stew) with his friends. In late August of the same year, he participated in his first summer camp, a two-night, three-day trip to the Shirakabako area in Nagano Prefecture.

5.1. Official Visits and Events

Prince Hisahito has gradually taken on more public duties as he has grown. On 7 November 2012, he visited the mausoleum of Emperor Jimmu in Kashihara, Nara Prefecture, marking his first visit to an imperial mausoleum. On 10 December 2013, he offered flowers at the Okinawa Peace Memorial Park in Itoman, Okinawa, and visited the Cornerstone of Peace.

In August 2019, he undertook his first official overseas visit, accompanying his parents to Bhutan. During this trip, they met with the King and Queen of Bhutan, visited the National Museum, and Prince Hisahito also engaged in cultural activities such as practicing archery.

More recently, Prince Hisahito has begun accompanying his father on regional official duties. On 29 July 2023, he attended the opening ceremony of the Kagoshima Sōbun-sai (National High School Comprehensive Cultural Festival) in Kagoshima Prefecture. He made a second such appearance on 31 July 2024, accompanying his parents to the Gifu Sōbun-sai opening ceremony.

On 25 August 2024, Prince Hisahito, along with his parents, privately attended the opening ceremony of the 27th International Congress of Entomology in Kyoto. The following day, he presented a poster on his joint research regarding dragonfly ecology in the Imperial Palace, demonstrating his active engagement in scientific pursuits.

Upon reaching adulthood on 6 September 2024, Prince Hisahito paid formal respects to Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako at the Imperial Palace, and to Emperor Emeritus Akihito and Empress Emerita Michiko at the Sento Imperial Residence, expressing his gratitude for their upbringing and support.

5.2. Imperial Rituals

As a member of the Imperial Family, Prince Hisahito has participated in various traditional rituals marking significant milestones in his life. On the day of his birth, 6 September 2006, the Sword Bestowal Ceremony (Shiken-no-Gi) was performed, where a guardian sword was presented to him by his grandfather, Emperor Akihito. This was followed by the Naming Ceremony (Meimei-no-Gi) on 12 September 2006, where his name "Hisahito" was officially bestowed.

On 3 November 2011, at the age of five, Prince Hisahito participated in the Chakkō-no-Gi and Fukasogi-no-Gi ceremonies at the Akasaka East Residence. These traditional rituals, which had been postponed from spring 2011 due to the Great East Japan Earthquake, mark a child's growth and the formal wearing of traditional court attire.

6.1. Literary Award and Writings

In March 2021, Prince Hisahito received a second-place prize in the junior high student category of the 12th Children's Nonfiction Literature Awards, organized by the Kitakyushu City Museum of Literature. His award-winning essay was titled "Visiting the Ogasawara Islands." He participated in the online award ceremony on 20 March 2021.

In February 2022, allegations of plagiarism surfaced regarding his award-winning essay. The Imperial Household Agency and Prince Hisahito acknowledged that the essay's citations were "inadequate." The Imperial Household Agency stated that the prince was "grateful for the指摘" (criticism or point) and would contact the award organizers with revisions. The Kitakyushu City Museum of Literature confirmed that the award would not be revoked, as the prize was based on an overall evaluation of the work. On 8 April 2022, the Imperial Household Agency announced that Prince Hisahito had submitted a revised version of the essay, including additional references and annotations, which was subsequently published online by the Kitakyushu City Museum of Literature on 12 April 2022.

6.2. Research Activities

Prince Hisahito has shown a keen interest in biology, particularly in the study of dragonflies. He has actively pursued research in this field alongside his academic studies. In 2023, his research findings were published in an academic journal, specifically in the Bulletin of the National Museum of Nature and Science, Series A (Zoology), under the title "Dragonfly Fauna of Akasaka Imperial Gardens - Diverse Environments and Human Management."

Further demonstrating his commitment to academic pursuits, Prince Hisahito privately attended the opening ceremony of the 27th International Congress of Entomology in Kyoto on 25 August 2024, accompanied by his parents. The following day, 26 August, he presented a poster on his joint research concerning dragonfly ecology within the Imperial Palace. During a discussion with a German researcher at the conference, he impressed with his specialized questions, inquiring in English, "How many Japanese species are in this?" The researcher expressed delight at the scientific exchange.

7.1. Succession Debate and Impact of Birth

Prior to Prince Hisahito's birth, the Japanese Imperial Family faced a significant succession crisis due to a severe shortage of male heirs. For over 40 years, no male child had been born into the Imperial House since his father, Crown Prince Fumihito, in 1965. This situation triggered a widespread Japanese imperial succession debate, with some politicians and public figures advocating for a revision of the Imperial Household Law to allow female members to inherit the throne. Proposals were put forth to abandon the principle of agnatic primogeniture, which has historically prevailed in Japan since the monarchy's establishment in 660 BC. While there have been eight reigning empresses in Japanese history (the last being Empress Go-Sakuramachi, who reigned from 1762 to 1771), conservative scholars argue that these female reigns were often temporary or served as placeholders until a suitable male heir from a collateral branch could assume the throne.

The most prominent figure in this debate was Princess Aiko, the only daughter of Emperor Naruhito (then Crown Prince). If female succession had been approved, she would have been second in line to the throne. However, the birth of Prince Hisahito in September 2006 effectively removed the immediate need for such non-traditional provisions for the succession. Following his birth, then-Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced the withdrawal of earlier proposals to alter the Imperial Household Law. The Imperial Household Agency emphasized that Prince Hisahito's birth ensured the continuation of the Imperial Family line, alleviating the immediate crisis of a potential dynastic break.

7.2. Current Succession Order

Prince Hisahito's birth significantly altered the line of succession. Following the ascension of his uncle, Emperor Naruhito, on 1 May 2019, Prince Hisahito became second in line to the Chrysanthemum Throne, directly after his father, Crown Prince Fumihito (who holds the title of Crown Prince, or Kōshi).

The current order of succession is as follows:
1. Crown Prince Fumihito (Prince Hisahito's father)
2. Prince Hisahito of Akishino
3. Prince Masahito (Emperor Emeritus Akihito's younger brother, Prince Hisahito's great-uncle)

Prince Hisahito is the only male member of the Imperial Family born in the Heisei era (1989-2019) and remains the youngest male in the line of succession. Barring any unforeseen circumstances such as the birth of a son to Emperor Naruhito or the demise of Prince Hisahito or his father before ascension, Prince Hisahito is currently positioned to become the 128th Emperor of Japan.

8.1. School Incident

On 26 April 2019, a security breach occurred at Ochanomizu University Junior High School, where a fruit knife was found placed on Prince Hisahito's classroom desk. The incident prompted a police investigation. On 29 April, a 56-year-old man, Kaoru Hasegawa, was arrested in Hiratsuka, Kanagawa Prefecture, in connection with the incident. During interrogation, the suspect reportedly confessed to being dissatisfied with the Imperial Family and intending to stab the prince. On 14 February 2020, Hasegawa was sentenced to a suspended prison term.

8.2. Plagiarism Allegations

In February 2022, Prince Hisahito faced accusations of plagiarism concerning his essay, "Visiting the Ogasawara Islands," which had received a second-place prize in the Kitakyushu Children's Nonfiction Literature Awards. Critics pointed out insufficient citations for certain passages.

In response, the Imperial Household Agency and Prince Hisahito acknowledged that the essay's citations were "inadequate." The Imperial Household Agency conveyed that the prince was "grateful for the指摘" (criticism or point raised) and would contact the award organizers to submit revisions. The Kitakyushu City Museum of Literature, the award organizer, stated that the award would not be revoked, as the evaluation was based on the overall quality of the work. On 8 April 2022, the Imperial Household Agency announced that Prince Hisahito had submitted a revised version of his essay, which included additional references and annotations. The corrected essay was subsequently made public online by the museum on 12 April 2022.

8.3. Car Accident

On the morning of 20 November 2016, a vehicle carrying Prince Hisahito, his mother Crown Princess Kiko, and six Imperial Household Agency staff members was involved in a minor rear-end collision on the Chuo Expressway in Sagamihara, Kanagawa Prefecture. The group was en route to Yamanashi Prefecture for a mountain climbing excursion with friends. No injuries were reported among the occupants of the Imperial vehicle. The incident sparked discussions regarding the differences in security protocols for Imperial Family members compared to those of the Emperor's immediate family, though the Imperial Household Agency Deputy Grand Steward stated that no review of the security system would be undertaken.

11.1. Imperial Education

Prince Hisahito's educational path has notably diverged from the traditional route followed by most Imperial Family members. Historically, members of the Imperial House have attended Gakushūin, a private school established for the peerage. However, Prince Hisahito, following the precedent set by his older sister Mako, attended institutions outside the Gakushūin system.

He enrolled in Ochanomizu University Affiliated Kindergarten in 2010, a decision influenced by his mother, Crown Princess Kiko, who conducts research at Ochanomizu University. His admission was facilitated by a special enrollment system for children of female researchers. He then continued to Ochanomizu University Elementary School and Junior High School.

For his high school education, Prince Hisahito chose to attend University of Tsukuba Senior High School, enrolling in April 2022. This decision was made after careful consideration and discussion with his parents, as Ochanomizu High School is exclusively for female students. His admission to Tsukuba University Senior High School was through a partnership system with Ochanomizu University Affiliated Junior High School, based on his demonstrated "excellent academic performance" and his successful completion of a five-subject academic test, alongside general applicants. While some media reports questioned the transparency of this system, it has been in place since 2017 and is not unique to Prince Hisahito.

This departure from Gakushūin is seen as an effort to provide Imperial Family members with a more diverse educational experience and allow them to interact with a broader range of peers.

11.2. Public Reception and Commemoration

Prince Hisahito's birth was met with widespread celebration and significant media attention both domestically and internationally. His arrival was particularly momentous as it resolved an immediate crisis regarding the Imperial succession.

Upon his birth, congratulatory telegrams were received by Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko from 21 heads of state, and by Emperor Akihito alone from an additional 31 heads of state. In Japan, the year 2006 saw the character "命" (inochi, meaning "life") chosen as the Kanji of the Year, with "悠" (yū, from Hisahito's name, meaning "serene" or "long") ranking second, reflecting the national joy and relief.

As a gesture of goodwill, the Topkapi Palace Museum in Turkey lent its national treasure, the "Golden Cradle," for a special exhibition at the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum from August to September 2007, commemorating his birth.

His personal emblem, the Japanese umbrella-pine (kōyamaki), also became a symbol of celebration. Nakatsugawa City in Gifu Prefecture, where the kōyamaki is the city tree, produced pamphlets featuring the tree. Nankai Electric Railway, which provides transport to Mount Kōya (the origin of the kōyamaki name), distributed 1,000 kōyamaki saplings to passengers at Namba Station to celebrate his birth.

While the Imperial Household Agency did not establish official signing books for his birth, many local governments and religious institutions across Japan independently set up their own. These included various prefectures (such as Hokkaido, Yamagata, Miyagi, Gunma, Saitama, Shiga, Osaka, Kyoto, Wakayama, Okayama, Tokushima, Shimane, Ehime, Fukuoka, Saga, Nagasaki, Kumamoto, Ōita, Miyazaki, and Kagoshima), as well as cities like Saitama City and Shikokuchūō, and prominent shrines and temples such as Izumo-taisha, Kitano Tenman-gū, and Zenkō-ji.

11.3. Media Coverage

Prince Hisahito's birth garnered extensive coverage from media outlets worldwide. International news organizations, particularly those in countries with monarchies like the United Kingdom, showed keen interest due to the ongoing Japanese imperial succession debate. The BBC News reported his birth as a top story, and CNN in the United States provided breaking news updates, with a Tokyo correspondent exclaiming, "It's a boy!" Major American publications like The New York Times and Time magazine also featured the news prominently. Media from other nations, including Xinhua News Agency in China and Yonhap News Agency and The Chosun Ilbo in South Korea, also published breaking news and special reports. Within Japan, domestic media extensively covered the event, with some independent broadcasters like Mie Television even dedicating special news slots to the announcement.