Figure 1.--
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Figure 1.-- |
Prince Naruhito is the oldest son of Emperor Akhito and his wife (Michiki). Crown Prince Naruhito was born in Tokyo (February 23, 1960). As the eldest son of then Crown Prince Akhito, Naruhito was also known as Prince Hiro). We do not know a great deal about Prince Naruhito's childhood. We have some information about his clothing. As a todler he wire French style rompers. We note him as a younger boy wearing short panrs suits, often with ankle socks rather than kneesocks. We also see him in traditional robes. Prince Naruhito has one brother, Prince Fumihito (1965- ). Prince Hiro has pursued his interest in history in both Japanese and English universities. He has studied at both Gakushuin and Oxford Universities. The Prince published an engaging memoir of his experiences in England--The Thames and I. Prince Hiro used the opportunity of studying in England to travel widely in Europe. And when he returne to Japn, he visited many places in the United States (October 1965). Naruhito's coming-of-age was celebrated with court rituals at the Imperial Palace (February 23, 1980). Since then he has taken part in various imperial functions and officially attends many events. He has also made official visits to many countries. While his father was away on a state visit to the United States (October 1987), during the illness of his grandfather, Emperor Showa (Hirohito) , he temporarily took over the Emperor's duties in matters of state. Prince Hiro enjoys music and has learned to plays the viola and violin. His favoriate sport is mountain climbing and is a member of the Japanese Alpine Club. He also enjoys playing tennis which his parents also enjoy. Crown Prince Naruhito married Miss Masako Owada (June 9, 1993). She was the eldest daughter of Mr. Hisashi Owada, a senior official in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Prince Naruhito is the oldest son of Emperor Akhito and his wife (Michiki).
Crown Prince Naruhito was born in Tokyo (February 23, 1960). As the eldest son of then Crown Prince Akhito, Naruhito was also known as Prince Hiro). We do not know a great deal about Prince Naruhito's childhood.
We have some information about his clothing based on the available historical record. . As a todler he wire French style rompers. We note him as a younger boy wearing short pants suits, often with ankle socks rather than kneesocks. We also see the Prince in his school uniforms. We also see him in formal portraits with traditional robes. I am not sure for what events he wore traditional clothing other than these formal portraits.
Prince Naruhito has one brother, Prince Akashino. He may have also been called Fumihito. The royal couples's second son was His Imperial Highness the Prince Akishino. The Prince was born on November 30, 1965. He know little about his childhood. The age difference in the two boys probably prevented them from sharing many experiences. He attended regular Japanese schools like his brother. And like his brother he attended universities in Japan and Enfland. He graduated from Gakushuin University in March 1988 and studied at St. John's College of Oxford University from October 1988 to June 1990. Since his graduation, he has paid a number of official visits to other countries and has undertaken official duties at home. In June 1990 he married Miss Kiko Kawashima, daughter of Dr. Tatsuhiko Kawashima, a professor at Gakushuin University.
We do not have details about the Prince's primary and secondary scchools, but we know that he attended regular school like his father. Prince Hiro has pursued his interest in history in both Japanese and English universities. He graduated from the Department of History in the Faculty of Letters of Gakushuin University (March 1982). He then began the first part of the doctoral course in history at the School of Humanities of Gakushuin University, specializing in the medieval history of Japan. He entered the Graduate School of the Oxford University in England (July 1983). At Oxford's Merton College he studied commodity transport on the Thames during the late 18th century (1984). The Prince published an engaging memoir of his experiences in England--The Thames and I. The English edition is a translation by former British Ambassador to Japan, Sir Hugh Cortazzi. It is sensitive, facinating account of English University life and customs from the perspective of a young Japanese student, but of course a far from typical Japanese student. After returning from England, he resumed his studies at Gakushuin University. He was awarded a M.A. (March 1988). He has maintained contacts with the University as a researcher in medieval history.
Prince Hiro used the opportunity of studying in England to travel widely in Europe. And when he returne to Japn, he visited many places in the United States (October 1965).
Naruhito's coming-of-age was celebrated with court rituals at the Imperial Palace (February 23, 1980). Since then he has taken part in various imperial functions and officially attends many events. He has also made official visits to many countries. While his father was away on a
state visit to the United States (October 1987), during the illness of his grandfather, Emperor Showa (Hirohito) , he temporarily took over the Emperor's duties in matters of state.
Prince Hiro enjoys music and has learned to plays the viola and violin. His favoriate sport is mountain climbing and is a member of the Japanese Alpine Club. He also enjoys playing tennis which his parents also enjoy.
Crown Princess Masako was born in Tokyo (December 9, 1963). She was the daughter of a diplomat. And as a result she had a very cosmopolitan upbringing, unlike any previous member of the royal family. She grew up different countries where her father was posted. This included the Soviet Union and the United States. She had quite a varied education. She attended kindergarten in Moscow, primary
school in New York and Tokyo, and secondary school in Tokyo and Boston. She attended university in the United Staes and graduated from Harvard with a major in economics (1985). She then persued graduate studies at the Faculty of Law of the University of Tokyo. She then began working at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (April 1987). While with the Japanese Foreign Service, she persued her education, taking glasses at Balliol College, Oxford University. She returned to Tokyo for a job with the Second North America Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (1990). She enjoys music, hiking, skiing, and tennis in her free time. She is particularly known for her language abilities. She speaks English, French, and German fluently.
Crown Prince Naruhito married Miss Masako Owada (June 9, 1993). She was the eldest daughter of Mr. Hisashi Owada, a senior official in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
When the royal couple did not have an heir soon after their marriage, press speculation ensued. One observer wrote, " The Japanese monarchy today has a major dynastic problem. That problem, simply put, is that there is no heir to the throne beyond Naruhito. The Prince has yet to produce any offspring. According to an expert quoted in one of the women's magazines following the royal family, the prospect for
the crown couple are not encouraging. For a couple with a healthy relatiinship who are not using birth control, not conceiving a child in the first 2 years of marriage means there is only a 5 percent chance that they will ever have a child. After 3 years, the statistics fade into the virtual imposible. This, of course, is without the use of medical intervention, which apparently the royal family is reluctant to use. Whatever the reasons, this presents a headache of tremendous proportions for the bureaucrats in the Agency who have to supervise the monarchy. If the crown prince fails to produce an heir, and if his younger brother Akishinomiya fails to produce any sons (a recent satirical column took up this case, and claimed that having girls is a sign of ineptness, though as the father of two daughters, I'd
rather not give it much credence), then they will have a big problem. The choices, essentially, are to
either entice younger brother Aki to have sons, or alternatively, to allow women to carry the royal bloodline."
The royal couple finally after 8 years of marriage had a child. Princess Aiko was born in Tokyo (December 1, 2001). Her official title is Toshi no Miya, or Princess Toshi).
Princess Aiko did not resolve the dynastic problem. The Imperial Household Law of 1947 reserves the line of secession to male relatives. Debate has begun in male-dominated Japan about modifying the primogeniture priciple to permit a woman to inherit Japam's Chrysanthemum Throne. Not only did the crown prince have a daughter, but his younger brother had two daughters. This abundance of princesses virtually forced the government to begin thinking about a female heir. The Japanese Government appointed a panel of experts which recommended that the Imperial succession law be changed to allow equal primogeniture. (2005). Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi annoubded his intention to address the issues (2006), but he never did so.
The Japanese Government postone plans to change the male-only imperial succession precedent.
The Crown Prince's younger brother, Prince Akishino, announced that his wife Princess Kiko were expecting a third child (February 2006). They already had two daughters. And then the Princess had a son Hisahito (September 6, 2006). This made him third in line to the Chrysanthemum Throne. Prince
Hisahito is the first male heir to be born in the Japanese imperial family for 40 years. It is not clear, however what will come of the consideration of plans to legitimitize female succession. The status of Japanese women has changed a great deal since 1946 and the progress of this legislation will be in many ways a test of just how far they have come. Prince Akishino and Princess Kiko's son seems to have posponed the sucession gender issue for another generation.
Prince Naruhito. Translated by Sir Hugh Cortazzi. The Thames and I (Global Oriental Ltd: 2006), 150p.
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