TOKYO: In a landmark moment for Japan’s Imperial Family, Prince Hisahito, the 19-year-old nephew of Emperor Naruhito, officially entered adulthood in a traditional coming-of-age ceremony. The prince, who is second in line to the Chrysanthemum Throne, is the first male member of the Imperial Family to reach this milestone in four decades.
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He might also be the last emperor, unless Japan reverses the 1889 law which legally limited succession to males under the prewar Constitution.
The coming of age ceremony, known as Kakan-no-Gi, marks the formal transition of royal princes into adulthood, symbolising their readiness to take on more responsibilities within the Imperial Household. Prince Hisahito had his ceremony on Saturday.
Dressed in a yellow ceremonial robe, Prince Hisahito was accompanied by his parents, Crown Prince Akishino and Crown Princess Kiko, as well as other members of the Imperial Family. The prince rode in a horse-drawn carriage once used by his father, Crown Prince Akishino, to the Imperial Palace, where he was greeted by Emperor Naruhito, Empress Masako, and other dignitaries.
At the palace, the prince received the black silk and lacquer crown, a symbol of his new responsibilities, before bowing to his parents and pledging to serve his country with dedication. Later, he changed into a black robe worn by adult royals, visited three sacred palace sanctuaries, and was awarded the Grand Cordon of the Supreme Order of the Chrysanthemum, Japan’s highest honor.
The ceremony marks a significant shift, as Prince Hisahito is the first member of the Imperial Family to reach adulthood under Japan’s revised Civil Code, which lowered the legal age of majority from 20 to 18 in 2022. However, the official ceremony was delayed until the prince turned 19 to avoid interfering with his university entrance exams. Since April, he has been studying biology at the University of Tsukuba, with a particular interest in entomology.
“I am aware of the weight of my responsibilities, and I will devote myself further to my studies while building experience,” Prince Hisahito said after the ceremony, according to Kyodo News.
With the Imperial family’s growing age, expectations are now shifting towards the young prince to assume a more prominent role. Prince Hisahito is expected to begin engaging in official duties after his coming-of-age ceremony. While he is still in the early years of his university education, sources indicate that plans are in place for him to take part in some domestic events during his summer break.
Prince Hisahito’s ascension to adulthood also highlights the complex issue of succession within Japan’s monarchy. Under the current Imperial House Law, only male heirs are allowed to inherit the throne, a system that has been in place since the post-war constitution of 1947. Despite previous discussions on allowing women to inherit the throne, Hisahito’s birth in 2006 effectively halted such debates, as he became the only male heir born in decades.
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Hisahito’s two older sisters, Princess Kako and former Princess Mako, both of whom are not in line to inherit the throne due to the law that removes royal status for female family members upon marriage to commoners, leave Prince Hisahito as the sole heir in the male line. With the aging of Crown Prince Akishino and his younger brother, Prince Hitachi, expectations on Prince Hisahito’s role within the Imperial Family are growing.