In a moment steeped in symbolism and history, Prince Hisahito of Japan, the only grandson of Emperor Emeritus Akihito and second in line to the Chrysanthemum Throne, marked his transition into adulthood with a rare coming-of-age ceremony at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on September 6, 2025. Celebrated on his 19th birthday, the ritual was the first of its kind for a male imperial member in four decades, echoing the ceremony once observed by his father, Crown Prince Fumihito, in 1985. The event underscored both the deep traditions of the Japanese monarchy and the uncertainties it faces in the future.
The proceedings began at the prince’s residence in Tokyo’s Minato Ward, where an imperial envoy bestowed upon him the kanmuri, a black lacquered silk crown traditionally reserved for adult members of the imperial family. This symbolic gesture marked the start of the Kakan-no-Gi ritual, which formalizes the passage from youth into adulthood. Dressed first in a Western-style morning coat, Hisahito then changed into ceremonial robes and boarded the same horse-drawn carriage once used by his father, making the journey to the Imperial Palace. The carriage procession through Tokyo streets was a powerful reminder of continuity, connecting generations of the imperial household.
At the palace, Hisahito was received by Emperor Naruhito, Empress Masako, Crown Prince Fumihito, Crown Princess Kiko, and senior members of the court. In a moving address, the young prince expressed gratitude for receiving the crown and pledged to fulfill his duties with maturity and responsibility, aware of the unique position he holds within the imperial family. Following this, he visited the palace’s sacred Shinto shrines, where he offered prayers to the deities enshrined there, symbolizing his new responsibilities not just as a family member but as a custodian of Japan’s cultural and spiritual heritage.
Later in the day, Hisahito participated in the Chōken-no-Gi, an imperial audience in which Emperor Naruhito presented him with the Grand Cordon of the Supreme Order of the Chrysanthemum, the highest honor in the Japanese order system. The prince then paid his respects to his grandparents, Emperor Emeritus Akihito and Empress Emerita Michiko, before joining his family for a celebratory banquet. The carefully choreographed series of events drew not only upon centuries of imperial tradition but also highlighted the modern role of the royal household as a symbol of unity and continuity.
The coming-of-age ritual itself has deep historical roots. Known as Seinen-shiki, it evolved from the Genpuku ceremonies of the Nara and Heian periods (8th–12th centuries), which marked the transition of imperial princes into adulthood. Although abolished as a legal requirement in 1947 during Japan’s post-war reforms, the tradition has continued within the imperial family, preserving its ceremonial essence. For the people of Japan, these rites serve as rare public glimpses into the otherwise private life of the nation’s oldest hereditary monarchy, which traces its lineage back more than 2,600 years.
Yet beyond the ceremony’s pageantry lies a pressing national conversation. Prince Hisahito is the sole male heir of his generation under Japan’s male-only succession law, which has long barred women from ascending the throne despite the country’s history of eight reigning empresses. With only three men, Emperor Naruhito, Crown Prince Fumihito, and Prince Hisahito currently eligible in the line of succession, concerns have grown over the future stability of the monarchy. Hisahito’s coming of age thus carries not just symbolic weight but also practical urgency, fueling debates in political and public circles over whether Japan should revisit its succession laws to allow female heirs or extend imperial status to male descendants from former branches of the family.
For now, however, Prince Hisahito’s life retains the qualities of a young man finding his way. A freshman at Tsukuba University, he is studying biology and is known for his fascination with insects, particularly dragonflies, even co-authoring a research paper on conservation in urban ecosystems. His academic pursuits and youthful interests add a humanizing layer to a figure who will one day shoulder enormous symbolic responsibility. As he balances his education with gradually increasing public duties, the coming-of-age ceremony marks not an end but the beginning of his journey into adulthood under the watchful eyes of both his family and the nation.
Prince Hisahito’s milestone represents both continuity and uncertainty for Japan’s imperial system. The ceremony reaffirmed centuries-old traditions, demonstrated the family’s ability to connect past and present, and placed a spotlight on a young man whose future may one day shape the destiny of the Chrysanthemum Throne. In him, the Japanese see not only a prince stepping into adulthood but also the embodiment of the challenges and hopes facing the monarchy in the 21st century.
