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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 Akihito and his wife (Michiki). Akihito married a commoner, Michiko Shoda, in 1959. Miss Michiko Shoda, the eldest daughter of Mr. Hidesaburo Shoda, the Former President of the Nishiin Flour Manufacturing Company. She was born in Tokyo on October 20, 1934. The Shodas are a scholarly family that has produced two recipients of the Order of Cultural Merit, the highest academic honour conferred by the Emperor upon distinguished scholars. A marriaqge to a commonet, however destinguished the family, wasa major step for the royal family.
Crown Prince Naruhito was born in Tokyo (February 23, 1960). As the eldest son of then Crown Prince Akhito, he became second in line to seceed his grandfather, Emperor Hirohito. Naruhito was also known as Prince Hiro. We do not know a great deal about Prince Naruhito's childhood. The Royal couple was determined to play a greater role in their children's life than was the case of previous emperors. We do not have a great amount of information on family life at this time. Most of our infirmation comes from the photographic record. We see some images of family life, although they are mostly staged, rather formal portraits. Several photographs show the Royal Couple taking Prince Naruhito on walks. I am not sure where they went, possibly the grounds of the Imperial Palace.
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.
The Royal Family is strongly associated with the Shinto religion. Shinto is a highly nationalistic Japanese religion developing from the animist beliefs of the early Japanese people. It was strongly influenced by Buddhist beliefs arriving from China. Shinto taught that the Emperor was divine, but over much of Japanese history, Japan was governed by warring nobels or in more recent history, the powerful Shogun who never dared replace the emperor. The Emperor Meiji overthrew the Shogunate (1860s) and launched the modernization of Japan. This included constitutional guarantees of freedom of religion. The Japanese military after World War I used Shinto to teach that the Japan were a chosen people destined to rule the world and promoted the emperor cult to unheard of extremes as part of an effort to expand the Japanese Empire. Here we are unsure to what extent Emperor Hirohito was involved in this process. There is no indication he objected. To what extent he promoted it, we do not know, Nor do we know if he really believed it. This eventually led to the horrendous Pacific War. Nationalist attempted to purse Shino of Buddhist elements. All Japanese including Buddhists and Christians had to attend services at Shinto shrines. After the War, as part of the democritization of Japan, the Emperor denined his devinity and freedom of religion was reinstituted. There continues, however, to be a close assocuation between the Royal Family and Shinto. Here we are not sure about the details, but suspect it is rather like the relationship between the British monarchy and the Anglican Church. Hopefully our Japanese readers will provide more details.
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). We do not know a lot about the Princess, but she is apparently very shy and does not like appearing in public. Like other members of the royal familky, she was enrolled in Tokyo's prestigious Gakushuin school. The press reported that at age 8 years that she was disturbed by the behavior of rowdy boys at school. She apparently stayed away from school for 6 days, suffering from from stomach aches and anxiety attacks. Japan's Kyodo news agency reported that the Princess and some of her classmates were 'treated harshly' by the unruly boys. The Imperial Palace reportedly intervened. A school spokesman denied that the Princess had been affected directly. The Gakushuin School is a private school with high standards. It was surpriing to read about rowdy boys at the school. We suspect they got a real telling off. Crown Princess Masako accompanied Aiko to the fourth period of her morning classes, but was still upset and left agin. ['Princess Aiko returns'] Princess Masako herself reportedly has been affected by all the press coverage of her marriage and failure so far to produce a male heir. She has, as a result, has made only a limited number of public appearances. Princess is Aiko is notable for being the first female member of the royal family we have noted wearing pants.
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.
"Princess Aiko returns to school after suffering bully-induced panic attacks," Hello! Royalty and Statesmen website (March 10, 2010).
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