Full Breakdown
Prince Hisahito Marks 20th Birthday Amid Succession Law Changes and Growing Public Role
9/6/2026, 10:56:41 PM
Coming-of-Age Ceremony and New Responsibilities
Prince Hisahito, the nephew of Emperor Naruhito and second in line to the Chrysanthemum Throne, turned 20 on September 6, 2025. The coming-of-age rite, *Kakan no gi*, was held at the Imperial Palace, after which he departed in a horse-drawn carriage. The Imperial Household Agency reported that the prince expressed gratitude for the support he has received. Since reaching adulthood, he has begun undertaking official duties, including a state banquet for Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in May and New Year’s greetings at the palace.
Legislative Background: Reinforcing Male-Only Succession
In July, Japan’s Parliament passed revisions to the 19th-century Imperial House Law. The changes lift a ban on adopting male offspring from distant former royal families and allow female royals to retain their status after marrying commoners, though their spouses and children will not become royals. The reforms were championed by conservative Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. Critics have described the measures as anachronistic and sexist, arguing they aim to sideline Princess Aiko, the emperor’s daughter, from succession.
Academic Pursuits and Personal Interests
Prince Hisahito is a second-year student in the College of Biological Sciences at the University of Tsukuba, focusing on biology and conducting fieldwork during the summer. He is known for his fascination with insects, especially dragonflies, and often carries a bug-catching net while cycling around campus. When not studying, he cultivates vegetables and rice at the family residence in Akasaka Estate.
Public Engagements and Travel
Over the past year, the prince visited six prefectures—including Hokkaido, Mie, Kyoto, Osaka, Nara and Hiroshima—for events tied to his coming-of-age and other duties. In August, he laid flowers at the Hiroshima atomic-bomb cenotaph and spoke at a boy-scout camp, delivering his first speech at an official ceremony..
Implications for the Imperial Family
Hisahito is the first male member of the imperial family to reach adulthood since Crown Prince Fumihito in 1985. The revised succession law places heightened expectations on him and his future spouse to produce a male heir, a pressure highlighted by experts commenting on the law’s impact. The combination of his academic focus, expanding public profile, and the legislative shift underscores the evolving role of the younger generation within Japan’s centuries-old monarchy.
