Prince Hisahito Turns 18, Faces Imperial Succession Challenges

In this photo provided by Japan's Imperial Household Agency of Japan, Crown Prince Akishino, center, poses for a photograph with his wife Crown Princess Kiko, second right, and their children,

In a significant milestone for Japan's royal family, Prince Hisahito celebrated his 18th birthday on Friday, marking the first time in nearly four decades that a male royal family member has reached adulthood. This event holds particular importance for a family with a history of over a millennium but is now grappling with challenges similar to those faced by the wider population, such as a rapidly aging and shrinking demographic.

Prince Hisahito, who is in line to become the future emperor, is the nephew of Japanese Emperor Naruhito. His father, Crown Prince Akishino, was the last male royal family member to reach adulthood back in 1985. Hisahito is the youngest among the 17-member all-adult imperial family, which currently consists of only four men.

The issue of succession within the imperial family is a complex one, as the existing system does not allow for empresses. The government is currently deliberating on how to ensure stable succession without depending on female members. The 1947 Imperial House Law, which upholds traditional pre-war family values, stipulates that only males can ascend to the throne and mandates that female royal members who marry commoners forfeit their royal status.

Succession issue due to male-only rule, no empresses allowed in imperial family.

Prince Hisahito turned 18, first male royal to reach adulthood in decades.

Princess Aiko, a popular choice for future empress, faces legal restrictions.

Government considering allowing female members to retain royal status after marriage.

Prince Hisahito expresses interest in insects, co-authors academic paper on dragonflies.

Panel recommends adopting male descendants from extinct royal families to maintain lineage.

Critics argue male-only succession rule hinders effectiveness of proposed measures.

Imperial House Law mandates male ascension to throne, female royals lose status upon marriage.

Princess Aiko, the daughter of Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako, is a popular choice among the public to become the future empress. However, the current law prohibits Masako, who has a direct line of descent, from assuming that role. The succession order is as follows: Emperor Naruhito, Crown Prince Akishino, and then Prince Hisahito.

Prince Hisahito, in a statement, expressed his desire to cherish his remaining time in high school. He has a keen interest in insects and has even co-authored an academic paper on a survey of dragonflies conducted on the grounds of his Akasaka estate in Tokyo.

A government-commissioned panel of experts recommended in January 2022 that female members be allowed to retain their royal status after marriage to address the declining population within the imperial family. The proposal also suggests adopting male descendants from extinct royal families to maintain the male lineage with distant relatives. Critics argue that these measures may have limited effectiveness as long as the male-only succession rule remains in place, a practice that historically relied on concubines in the pre-modern era.