Prince Hisahito of Japan Celebrates His 18th Birthday

Prince Hisahito, the son of Crown Prince Akishino and Crown Princess Kiko, turned 18 on Friday, marking a significant milestone as the first male member of Japan's imperial family to reach adulthood in 39 years, since his father in 1985. The age of adulthood in Japan has since been lowered to 18.

In a letter released through the Imperial Household Agency, Prince Hisahito expressed his desire to deepen his learning and personal growth as he enters adulthood. Currently a third-year student at the University of Tsukuba's Senior High School at Otsuka in Tokyo, the prince's coming-of-age ceremony will take place following his graduation next March.

Reflecting on his childhood, the prince remarked on how quickly time has passed, recalling his days in kindergarten, elementary, and junior high school. He expressed gratitude to his parents and his sisters, Mako Komuro, who left the imperial family upon marriage, and Princess Kako. As a final-year high school student, Hisahito shared his aspiration to work hard towards his future and cherish the remaining time in school.

Last fall, Prince Hisahito visited Okinawa Prefecture on a school trip, where he learned about peace and experienced life on a remote island. His academic interests include natural history, particularly insects and their habitats. He has been conducting research on plants suitable for dragonflies to lay eggs on and presented his findings at school in February. While his dragonfly research has slowed due to increased studying, he hopes to pursue these subjects further at university.

The prince also showed concern for the victims of the January 1 Noto Peninsula earthquake, and in April, his family was briefed by youths from the Scout Association of Japan on their aid efforts in the quake-affected areas.

Recently, groundless rumors have circulated regarding Prince Hisahito’s future, with some media reports suggesting he might seek admission to the University of Tokyo through a recommendation system. This sparked an online petition in opposition. Naomasa Yoshida, the grand master of the Crown Prince's household, addressed these rumors, stating that Prince Hisahito finds the situation distressing and strange. Yoshida emphasized that, despite reaching adulthood, the prince is still focused on completing his high school education and personal growth.