Crown Prince Fumihito's Son Ranks 2nd in Line to the Throne
Hisahito (悠仁) Shinn? (親王, a title given to members of the imperial family), the nephew of Emperor Naruhito of Japan, turned 18 years old on the 6th of this month, reaching adulthood. This significantly alleviates the crisis over the continuation of the imperial family that has lasted for over 1,000 years.
On this day, the Yomiuri Shimbun reported that the Imperial Household Agency announced that Prince Hisahito had become an adult and released a video of him walking in the forest on the 6th. Prince Hisahito is the nephew of King Naruhito, and his father, Crown Prince Fumihito, was the last male member of the imperial family to reach adulthood in 1985.
Japan's "Imperial House Law" stipulates in Article 1 that the throne is succeeded by "male descendants in the male line (sons born to male members of the imperial family)," and it specifies that female members of the imperial family lose their royal status if they marry someone outside the imperial family. Therefore, Aiko, the only daughter of Emperor Naruhito, cannot inherit the throne.
The Imperial Household Agency stated that the coming-of-age ceremony will be postponed until next year to allow the prince to complete his studies, adding, "The prince is very interested in nature. He wants to absorb various aspects and grow, learning more through all his experiences."
Prince Hisahito said in a statement on the day, "For now, I want to enjoy the remaining time in high school." He is well known for his strong interest in insects and co-authored a research paper on dragonflies in the Akasaka Palace garden.
The formal coming-of-age ceremony is scheduled to be held next spring after he graduates from high school. Adult members of the imperial family officially attend events and ceremonies of the Japanese imperial household. The annual allowance provided by the Imperial Household Agency will increase from 3.05 million yen to 9.15 million yen (approximately 85 million KRW). Prince Hisahito is the first male born into the Japanese imperial family in 41 years.
Emperor Naruhito (left) and Empress Masako ahead of their 5th anniversary of accession. [Photo by AP/Reuters]
However, recently in Japan, public opinion supporting the recognition of a female emperor has been growing, raising questions about whether his position as the "second in line to the succession" will be maintained. In May, Japanese lawmakers began discussing the possibility of relaxing the imperial succession rules, and according to a Kyodo News poll conducted in April, 90% of Japanese citizens support a female emperor.
When asked why they support a female emperor, 50% answered that "the role of the emperor is not related to gender."
Previously, Prince Hisahito was involved in controversy over his education. Amid allegations of preferential treatment to send him to the prestigious University of Tokyo, more than 12,000 people signed a petition opposing his recommended admission to the university.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
