On September 6, 2025, the usually tranquil grounds of Tokyo’s Imperial Palace bustled with excitement and tradition as Prince Hisahito, the 19-year-old nephew of Emperor Naruhito, underwent a series of elaborate coming-of-age ceremonies. The event marked a significant milestone not just for the young prince but for the entire Japanese imperial family, as he became the first male royal to reach adulthood in four decades. Yet, behind the splendid rituals and public celebrations, the day also underscored a looming succession crisis that has cast a long shadow over the world’s oldest monarchy.
The ceremonies began at Prince Hisahito’s family residence, where he appeared in a tuxedo to receive a crown delivered by the emperor’s messenger. According to The Economic Times, attendants then carefully removed a black silk headband from his head and replaced it with a black silk and lacquer adult crown—bestowed by Emperor Naruhito himself—marking Hisahito’s official entry into royal adulthood. The prince’s parents, Crown Prince Fumihito (also known as Akishino) and Crown Princess Kiko, along with his elder sister Princess Kako, watched the proceedings with pride and emotion.
During the solemn ritual, Prince Hisahito expressed his gratitude to the emperor and Empress Masako, stating, “Thank you very much for bestowing the crown today at the coming-of-age ceremony. I will fulfil my duties, being aware of my responsibilities as an adult member of the imperial family.” As AFP reported, the prince’s words reflected both humility and a sense of duty—a theme that would echo throughout the day’s events.
Once crowned, the prince changed into traditional adult ceremonial attire and rode in a state carriage to the Imperial Palace Sanctuaries. There, he performed formal worship to honor the family’s ancestors, a gesture steeped in centuries of imperial tradition. Later, in the prestigious Matsu-no-Ma (pine room) of the palace, he met again with Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako, reiterating his pledge and gratitude. In recognition of his new status, he was awarded the Grand Cordon of the Supreme Order of the Chrysanthemum, the nation’s highest honor.
The day’s schedule was packed with symbolism and significance. After the palace rituals, Prince Hisahito visited his grandparents, former Emperor Akihito and former Empress Michiko, at the Sento imperial residence in Akasaka. In the evening, a private celebratory banquet was held in Tokyo with around 30 relatives in attendance. Meanwhile, crowds gathered outside the Imperial Palace and the Akasaka Estate, waving small Japanese flags and cheering as the prince smiled and waved from his car window—a rare public display of imperial warmth.
This coming-of-age ceremony was, in some ways, a historical first. Prince Hisahito is the first male member of the imperial family to reach adulthood since his father, Crown Prince Fumihito, did so in 1985. He is also the first to do so under Japan’s revised Civil Code, which lowered the age of adulthood from 20 to 18 in April 2022. The prince had actually turned 18 in September 2024, but the ceremonies were postponed by a year to allow him to focus on his university entrance exams—a nod to the pressures facing even royal students in modern Japan.
Since April 2025, Hisahito has attended the University of Tsukuba, where he studies insects at the School of Life and Environmental Sciences. According to an AP report cited by The Economic Times, he enjoys playing badminton and has co-authored a paper on dragonflies found on the grounds of his Akasaka estate. In his first press conference in March, he shared his passion for studying dragonflies and his desire to protect insect populations in urban areas, signaling a keen interest in environmental issues.
Yet, the grandeur of the day could not mask the stark reality facing the imperial family. As second in line to the Chrysanthemum Throne—after his father, Crown Prince Fumihito—Prince Hisahito is widely expected to become emperor one day. But after him, there is no clear successor. The 1947 Imperial House Law, which was designed to preserve conservative prewar family values, restricts succession to males with male lineal descent from emperors. This law, rooted in an 1889 constitutional revision, has left the throne with a dwindling pool of eligible heirs. The only other male heirs are his 59-year-old father and the emperor’s uncle, Prince Hitachi, who is 89.
Emperor Naruhito has a daughter, 23-year-old Princess Aiko, who is well-liked by the public and seen by many as a capable future monarch. However, under current rules, she is excluded from the line of succession simply because she is a woman. Historically, Japan has had eight female emperors—the most recent, Gosakuramachi, ruled from 1762 to 1770—but none produced heirs during their reign. The male-only succession rule, formalized in the late 19th century, has become increasingly controversial in a society grappling with demographic decline and shifting gender norms.
Debate over imperial succession has simmered for decades. In 2005, a government panel recommended allowing the throne to pass to the oldest child regardless of sex, a move that would have paved the way for Princess Aiko. But the birth of Hisahito in 2006 shifted the political winds, and conservatives rallied to preserve the male-only tradition. More recently, a conservative panel in January 2022 suggested maintaining male-line succession but proposed that female members be allowed to keep their royal status after marriage and continue official duties—a modest reform to address the shrinking royal roster. The Yomiuri newspaper went further in May 2022, calling for an urgent revision to the Imperial House Law to allow women and their descendants to inherit royal status and even the throne itself.
The issue is not just a matter of tradition or law—it reflects broader societal trends. Japan’s imperial family, currently composed of 16 adults, mirrors the country’s rapidly aging and shrinking population. Female members lose their royal status upon marrying commoners, as happened with Hisahito’s older sister, former Princess Mako, who now lives in the United States. This rule further reduces the pool of active royals and intensifies the succession dilemma.
Public opinion has shifted over the years. Polls suggest strong support for allowing women to ascend the throne, but political inertia and conservative resistance persist. For now, the imperial household continues to rely on a handful of male heirs, with Hisahito representing both the hope and the uncertainty of the monarchy’s future.
In the days following the ceremony, Prince Hisahito’s schedule remains packed with tradition. He is set to visit the Ise Shrine, Emperor Jinmu’s mausoleum in Nara, and his great-grandfather Emperor Hirohito’s tomb near Tokyo. He will also attend a lunch with Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and other dignitaries—a reminder that, even as a newly minted adult, his public duties have only just begun.
The dazzling rituals and heartfelt pledges of September 6 may have offered a fleeting moment of celebration, but they also served as a poignant reminder: unless Japan’s imperial succession rules evolve, Prince Hisahito could one day be the last emperor of a line stretching back millennia.