Full Breakdown
Prince Hisahito Marks 20th Birthday with Expanded Imperial Duties
9/7/2026, 2:06:49 PM
Milestone Birthday and Formal Ceremony
Prince Hisahito, the only son of Crown Prince Akishino (Fumihito) and Crown Princess Kiko, turned 20 on September 6. The Imperial Household Agency released photographs of him wearing the crown with a swallow-tail ornament during the Crown-Wearing Ceremony held on September 6, 2025, in Shunju-no-Ma of the Imperial Palace.
Recent Official Engagements
Following his coming-of-age ceremony, Hisahito has begun to assume a broader range of adult responsibilities. The Imperial Household Agency issued footage of his August 13 visit to the Science Museum of Map and Survey in Tsukuba, Ibaraki Prefecture, where he examined a quadrant telescope and practiced latitude calculations. TBS reported that he also attended, for the first time, a state banquet hosted by Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako.
Academic Focus and Map Enthusiasm
Hisahito is a second-year student in the College of Biological Sciences at the University of Tsukuba. An aide noted that he combines his biology studies with field observations, often using maps to record habitats. His long-standing interest in cartography dates to childhood; he previously visited an international cartographic conference in Tokyo in July 2019 with his parents and has explored historic maps of the Imperial Palace from the 1870s, 1990s, and 2019.
Community Activities and Outdoor Experiences
In addition to academic and ceremonial duties, Hisahito has participated in community events. On August 8 he prepared breakfast for a Boy Scout camping program in Jinsekikogen, Hiroshima Prefecture. Earlier in the year, on March 7, he and Crown Princess Kiko joined children at a ski orienteering experience in Rusutsu Village, Hokkaido, navigating courses with compass and map skills.
These engagements illustrate Hisahito’s gradual transition into a fully active adult member of Japan’s Imperial Family, balancing scholarly pursuits, ceremonial obligations, and public outreach.
