The world's final Emperor? Prince Hisahito, only young Heir of Japanese throne, 'enters' adulthood

The autumn sun shone bright warming up the gardens of Tokyo's Imperial Palace in the early morning of Saturday, September 6, 2025. Following a night of heavy rain, it felt like a fresh renewal, in a historic day for over a thousand year-old Japanese Monarchy. Prince Hisahito of Akishino, the youngest of the 16-member Imperial Family and only male heir of the younger generation, was formally confirmed as an adult, on his 19th Birthday. He underwent "Seinen-shiki" - the Coming of Age rituals - a 1,300-year-old series of Ceremonies (known as genpuku), last held for an Imperial Prince 40 years ago, when his father, (current Presumptive Heir) Fumihito, turned 20. He wore a long-tailed canopy gifted by The Emperor, was donned into a court kimono and used a horse-drawn state carriage to report his new role as a senior Shinnō (Prince) to ancestral deities enrshined at the Palace's Compound. Hisahito legally came of age when he turned 18, but rites to officially recognise him as a working member of The Imperial Family were delayed for a year, so that he could finish high school and enroll to University, where he studies Biology at The School of Life and Environmental Sciences. The second-in-line to succeed his Uncle, Emperor Naruhito, behind Crown Prince Akishino, Hisahito is the only young person, eligible to inherit the legendary 2,600-year-old Chrysanthemum throne - his female cousin and sister barred from succession according to the strict salic law of Japanese Constitution. The third and last in line, Prince Hitachi (brother of the retired Emperor, Akihito), is 89 and married, but childless.

Dressed into a smoking coat, His Imperial Highness began the rites in the morning of his birthday at The Crown Prince's residence in Tokyo's Minato Ward. At 8:45 am he received his coming of age Crown, the Kanmuri headpiece by a Messenger of The Emperor, and they exchanged bows. Then The Prince greeted his parents, Crown Prince Fumihito and Crown Princess Kiko, and older sister Princess Kako of Akishino, and was driven by an official car to The Imperial Palace. As his motordace passed in front of the Nijubashi Bridge before the Palace's entrance, Hisahito greeted the crowds of people gathered to see him off, while they waved with small Japanese flags and their cheers of: Banzai! (Ten Thousand Years!) echoed up to the entrance. At the Palace Hisahito changed to kettehi-no-ho, the light-yellow (beige) colored kimono for a minor member of The Imperial Family, with its customary, almost six-meter long tail. Accompanied by Imperial Household Officials, he proceeded to the Shunju-no-Ma (Grand Hall) for The Crown Wearing Ceremony.

The Kakan-no-Gi Ceremony started at 10:00am. It was attended by The Emperor and Empress, The Crown Prince and Crown Princess, and all female members of The Imperial Family (apart from the retired Empress). 40 people in total joined the ceremony, among them the Heads of the administrative, legislative and judiciary branches of Japanese government. Household Agency officials helped remove the kuchokokusaku - the imperial headgear for minors - from the seated Prince Hisahito and replace it with Kanmuri "crown". Vice-Chancellor Norihiro Sakane wore the new, swallow-tailed (enbi no ei) ornament on Hisahito's head and another official helped fix it by the kakeo strap, a fastening cord made of Japanese washi paper, tied beneath The Prince's chin. After its length was adjusted, the ending edges of the strap were neatly cut by two snips of scissors, which sound echoed through the hushed chamber, symbolizing The Imperial Prince's entering the adulthood through this ritual.

Hisahito stood, turned to The Imperial Couple, deeply bowed and thanked his Sovereign Uncle for the adult crown and both Their Imperial Majesties for attending the ceremony. He then turned to his parents and expressed his gratitude for hosting this ceremony and assured The Crown Prince Couple that he is aware of his responsibilities as an adult member of The Imperial Family. He bowed to them and exchanged bows in turns with The Imperial Princesses and officials in attendance (his staffman adjusting his robe's long tail in each turn, as even a faint rustle of silk could be heard in the hall). His Imperial Highness departed after Their Majesties and his parents and went to change into the Hōekiho kimono, a dark-top attire for adult male members of The Imperial Family. Hisahito was waved off by his first cousin, Princess Aiko, great-aunt Princess Hitachi & Princesses from The Mikasa & Takamado Households as he got to a horse-drawn close-roof carriage to visit the Palace's Imperial Sanctuaries.

The Ceremonial Carriage "No. 4", build 112 years ago, was previously used at the Coming of Age Ceremonies for Hisahito's father (Fumihito) and great-uncle (Masahito), as well as for major events - such as Imperial Enthronements and driving The US Ambassadors to Japan for credentials presentation. Featuring a gold lacquered Imperial crest (/Seal) of Chrysanthemum and other ornament decorations in its exterior, it has a four-seat capacity in its interior, and was drawn by two horses, leading in procession for The Imperial Prince's next coming of age ritual. The Ceremony of Worshipping to the Imperial Ancestors Shrine was held at around 11:30am at the Three Imperial Sanctuaries in the Compound of The Imperial Palace. Lead into by a Shinto priest, Prince Hisahito of Akishino was seen entering the shrines (including the Kashikodokoro, dedicated to Sun Godess Amaterasu), kneel in prayer, and enter with an offering to report his Coming of Age to his Imperial Ancestors, believed to be enshrined there.

The Chōken-no-Gi, First (in person) Audience of Prince Hisahito with The Emperor and The Empress, took place at around 2:00pm. His Imperial Highness, dressed back to his western attire, entered The Matsu-no-Ma Throne Hall of The Imperial Palace accompanied by an attendant. He stood in front of his Sovereign Uncle, bowed, and read out his first address to His Imperial Majesty. After expressing his deep gratitude for receiving the crown and completing his Coming-of-Age Ceremony in Their Majesties' presence, Hisahito declared that: "With a deep awareness of the weight of my responsibilities as an adult member of The Imperial Family, I shall devote myself all the more to my studies, seek to gain experience, and endeavor to repay the kindness I have received". The Emperor noded and replied to his nephew, first Congratulating him on his coming of age: "I hope that you will apply yourself diligently to your studies while also fulfilling your duties as a member of The Imperial Family with distinction." After another bow, Prince Hisahito approached The Empress, and read a similar address. Empress Masako also congratulated him and additionally wished him good health and strength "as you gain a variety of experiences". After a final bow, Prince Hisahito took his seat moving a few steps back.

At the audience, which was the final official ceremony for Saturday, September 6, Prince Hisahito of Akishino received The Grand Cordon of The Supreme Order of The Chrysanthemum by Emperor Naruhito, a post-war tradition for each adult member of The Imperial Family. After meeting The Grand Steward of The (Government-chaired) Imperial Household Agency, Hisahito was pictured leaving the Palace with the Chrysanthemum Order's medal atteched to his suit. Some 300 people were still there, among them tourists, to watch Prince Hisahito's departure from The Imperial Palace by a car of The Imperial Household, and greet him. Before returning home, His Imperial Highness was driven to Sento Imperial Residence (also within Akasaka Estate) to pay a visit to his nonegarian grandparents, TIM Emperor Emeritus Akihito and Empress Emerita Michiko. Their retired Majesties joined The Emperor and Empress and Crown Prince's Akishino Family for a private dinner at the Imperial Hotel (Chiyoda Ward) in the early evening, hosted by Crown Prince Fumihito, The Prince Akishino, to celebrate the Coming-of-Age of his only son.

Following the official ceremonies for his coming of age, Prince Hisahito of Akishino travelled Southwest to the Kansai Region of Japan on Monday (September 8) to take part in some more religious rituals. He visited the Ise (Jingū) Shrine in Mie prefecture, co-dedicated to Sun Goddess Amaterasu Ōmikami, the ancestral deity of the Imperial dynasty according to Japanese mythology. At 8:15am The Prince (wearing a swallow-tailed tuxedo suit) arrived at the outer Gekū shrine and worshipped there before proceeding to the inner Naikū shrine, believed to enshrine the solar goddess. Having received a purification ritual outside its gate, Hisahito was led by a priest to the main hall where he offered a tamagushi offering on the altar and prayed, reporting his coming of age ceremony's accomplishment. Later in the afternoon His Imperial Highness traveled to Nara prefecture to report his Coming-of-Age on the tomb of founding Emperor Jimmu (who legendary established the Japanese Monarchy in 660 BC). He returned to Tokyo the next day (Tuesday, September 9) to similarly report his ceremonies at The Mausoleum of his great-grandparents, wartime Emperor Hirohito and Empress Nagako (poshumously known as Emperor Shōwa and Empress Kōjun), in Musashi Imperial Graveyard in Hachioji, western suburb of the capital.

After the end of the formal ceremonies on September 6, Prince Hisahito gave brief remarks to the press at the entrance of his parents' residence. He said he felt "relieved" that the Ceremony was carried out "without incidence", and affirmed his resolve to "firmly fulfill my role as part of The Imperial Household". His Imperial Highness had been preparing for this ceremony with resolve, having rehearsed, spoken to his father and studied footage from the latter's 1985 rites throughout his summer break. The Agency also released a statement from Hisahito's parents, Crown Prince Akishino, 59 and Crown Princess Kiko, who reflected on his childhood, were deeply moved by his reaching the milestone & beginning public duties, and hopeful of his faithful and responsible approach. On Wednesday, September 10, the Crown Prince Couple hosted a final luncheon for government officials to celebrate their son's adulthood at the Meiji Kinenkan, Minato Ward (Tokyo). Some 30 guests participated, including the outgoing Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, and Princess Kako of Akishino, 30, the second daughter of Fumihito and Kiko. Their eldest, (former Princess) Mako Komuro, who had to relinquish her titles on her marriage in 2021, and recently had a child in New York, was invited but didn't attend.

During the luncheon on September 10, Crown Prince Akishino said there will be more opportunities for his son to carry out official engagements and hoped that he would be supported. Currently Fumihito is the only male royal who can act as proxy to his brother, The Emperor, since Hisahito couldn't carry out engagements until now, while his elderly uncle, Prince Hitachi, is limited by mobility and health issues. According to The Imperial House Law (article 22) the legal majority age for The Emperor, his son Kotaishi (Crown Prince) and grandson Kotaison (Kotaishi's first son) is 18. Although technically Prince Hisahito - the son of Heir Presumptive, former Emperor's second son - doesn't fall to this category, his coming of age was valid under the revised Civil Code (article 3), which lowered the adulthood age in Japan from 20 to 18 in April 2022. Born September 6, 2006 (the first male birth in The Imperial Family in 41 years), Prince Hisahito of Akishino has developed the hobby of studying incects - dragonflies in particular - having co-authored an academic paper about their population in his parents' residence. Besides, he enjoys playing the badminton and has been a cultivated pacifist since young age (having visited war-memorials, museums, and lectured of Japanese wartime History by late novelist Kazutoshi Hando). Since April 2025, Hisahito is a Biology student at The University of Tsukuba, where he has actively participated in campus field research and extracurricular activities with his fellow students.

While The young Imperial Prince - who was pictured cozily cycling & strolling around his University campus on his 19th birthday photos - takes more of life's experience as a freshman student than official appearances behind the Palace Walls, a crucial question remains for Imperial Family experts: Will he be the last Emperor? Will the world's last Imperial House, go extinct with his reign after ~1,600 years of verified existence? Before the westernized Meiji Constitution totally excluded women from Succession in 1889, there were eight cases of female Emperors (most recently Empress Gosakuramachi, reigneth: 1762-1770), none of whom produced a heir. Before the end of World War Two, Japanese Imperial Family numbered 11 collateral branches, whose members could be adopted by the senior branch in case of lack of male heirs. The use of concubines wasn't excluded either. However, the postwar Constitution (of 1947) abolished the collateral branches, while keeping the Salic Law and forcing Princesses from the only branch left to abandon their Imperial status and become commoners if they opted for a non equal marriage. Their commoner husbands and children have no chance of getting a title or public role.

With Imperial Consorts facing increasing pressure to produce a heir and the lack of new male members for over a generation a panel of experts and government officials began discussing the option of revising the male-only succession law to allow Princess Aiko (Princess Toshi) - the popular daughter & only child of Naruhito & Masako, born in 2001 - to become his father's future heiress. Those talks froze on Hisahito's birth, and a new panel wasn't established until after The Imperial Succession of 2019 (after Emperor Akihito's abdication and Naruhito's accession to The Chrysanthemum Throne). Conservative members of the government excluded the option of a new Succession system, and rather opted for either the restoration of some of the former collateral branches, or the adoption of its members in case of future lack of male heirs. The option of female members retaining their status upon marriage was also put on table, amid family shrinking and aging of working royals - a reflection of the Japanese society. The Imperial Family has now 16 members, 6 of them younger than 44, four above 80 & three retired. Even if Prince Hisahito later opts for a productive marriage, it will be hard for him to hold The entire Monarhcy on his shoulders alone.

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