On September 6, 2025, Japan marked a historic milestone as Prince Hisahito, the 19-year-old nephew of Emperor Naruhito, became the first male heir to reach adulthood in the imperial family in four decades. The elaborate coming-of-age ceremony, known as Kakan-no-Gi, unfolded at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, drawing national attention not just for its pageantry but for the renewed debate it has ignited over the future of Japan’s monarchy.
Hisahito’s journey to this moment was anything but ordinary. Born on September 6, 2006, to Crown Prince Akishino and Crown Princess Kiko, he is the only son in his immediate family and now stands second in line to the Chrysanthemum Throne. With his coming-of-age, he assumes a unique role in a royal household that, despite its deep roots—stretching back some 2,600 years, according to legend—now faces an unprecedented succession crisis. As reported by The Guardian, Hisahito graciously accepted a kanmuri, a ceremonial black silk and lacquer crown, from an imperial messenger. "Thank you very much for bestowing the crown today at the coming-of-age ceremony," he said. "I will fulfil my duties, being aware of my responsibilities as an adult member of the imperial family."
The day’s rituals were steeped in tradition. Hisahito first donned formal, centuries-old robes to mark his entry into adulthood, then switched into Western-style attire for a stately carriage ride to the palace’s three shrines, where he paid respects to the gods and his ancestors, according to Nippon. His official duties now include visits to the Ise Shrine, the tomb of Japan’s first emperor Jinmu, and the mausoleum of Emperor Showa—his great-grandfather. He is also scheduled to meet Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and other dignitaries, a sign of his growing public responsibilities.
This was the first coming-of-age ceremony for an imperial prince since his father, Crown Prince Akishino, celebrated his own in 1985. The event had initially been postponed by a year to allow Hisahito time to prepare for his university entrance exams. Now a freshman at Tsukuba University, he is studying biology with a particular fascination for dragonflies. In fact, he has already co-authored a study on insects at his family’s Akasaka estate and has voiced a commitment to protecting urban insect populations—a modern touch to an ancient role.
Yet, beneath the surface of ceremonial splendor, the realities facing the imperial family are stark. The family currently counts just 16 adult members, and, crucially, only two young male heirs: Crown Prince Akishino and Prince Hisahito himself. Emperor Naruhito’s only child, Princess Aiko, is 23 years old and, under the 1947 Imperial House Law, is barred from succession simply because she is female. This law, a relic of the postwar era, reserves the throne exclusively for male heirs and has become the focal point of heated national debate.
Historically, Japan has had eight reigning empresses, but the current succession rules make no allowance for women to ascend the throne. After Hisahito’s birth in 2006, proposals to amend the succession system—such as allowing the oldest child, regardless of gender, to inherit the throne—were shelved. According to News18, a 2005 government panel had recommended such a change, which would have opened the door for Princess Aiko. But the arrival of a male heir seemed, at the time, to resolve the crisis—at least temporarily.
Today, however, the issue has resurfaced with new urgency. As the imperial family ages and its numbers dwindle, questions swirl about how to preserve the world’s oldest continuous monarchy. Public opinion polls consistently show strong support for a woman taking the throne, reflecting a shift in societal attitudes. Nevertheless, traditionalists argue that the “unbroken imperial line” of male succession is foundational to Japanese identity, and warn that major changes could divide the nation. “The fundamental question is not whether to allow male or female succession line but how to save the monarchy,” former Imperial Household Agency chief Shingo Haketa told the Associated Press.
The debate extends beyond the question of a female emperor. Under current rules, royal daughters must leave the family upon marriage. Hisahito’s two older sisters, Princess Kako and former Princess Mako, have each navigated this reality—Mako famously relinquished her royal status to marry a commoner. Some reform proposals suggest that women should be allowed to retain their royal status and continue public duties after marriage, while conservatives advocate for bringing distant male relatives back into the fold to maintain the male lineage.
The pressures within the imperial household are well documented. Empress Masako, a former diplomat, has struggled for years with stress-related illness attributed to the intense expectations placed on her, particularly regarding the birth of a male heir. Empress Emerita Michiko, too, suffered similar health problems. The scrutiny and gossip that surround royal marriages—and the expectation that women bear sons—remain potent forces shaping the lives of those inside the palace walls.
For his part, Prince Hisahito appears to be taking his new responsibilities in stride, though he admits that some aspects of his future remain uncertain. As News18 reported, he said earlier this year, “As a young member of the imperial family, I am determined to fulfil my role,” but noted that he has “not yet thought deeply” about his own marriage prospects—a decision that, given tradition, could carry significant implications for the royal household.
Meanwhile, the royal family’s role in Japanese society continues to evolve. Under the postwar constitution, the monarchy holds no political power, serving instead as a symbol of national unity and continuity. But as the family’s numbers shrink and the succession crisis looms, the question of who will carry the imperial line forward remains unanswered. The options—allowing female succession, retaining women’s royal status after marriage, or adopting distant male relatives—each carry their own risks and rewards, and none have yet achieved consensus.
As Japan celebrated Prince Hisahito’s coming-of-age, the moment was both a cause for national pride and a reminder of the complex challenges still facing the world’s oldest royal family. Whether the monarchy will adapt or continue to rely on tradition alone is a question that, for now, remains open.
