Why is Prince Hisahito under so much attention in Japan now?

He turned 20 as the government reinforced male-only succession rules, making him a more prominent future monarch figure. He is second in line to the Chrysanthemum Throne and the youngest of 16 imperial family members.

What changes did Japan make to the Imperial House Law?

The revised law lets the family adopt male offspring from extremely distant former royal families and allows female royals to keep their status after marrying commoners. Their future partners and children will not become royals.

How has Princess Aiko been affected by the succession debate?

Princess Aiko is hugely popular and most Japanese want her to be emperor’s successor, but she is ineligible because she is a woman. The revisions were criticized as sexist and as an effort to justify discrimination while keeping her out of the line of succession.

Prince Hisahito turns 20 as Japan's government reinforces male-only succession rules

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Summary

Prince Hisahito turned 20 in Tokyo on Sunday as Japan’s government reinforced male-only succession rules. He is second in line to the Chrysanthemum Throne and the youngest member of the shrinking imperial family. The revised law has drawn criticism for excluding Princess Aiko, who remains ineligible despite broad public support. Hisahito said last year that his main focus was studying and that he had not thought about marriage timing or a partner yet.

Key Facts

Hisahito is a sophomore majoring in biology at the University of Tsukuba near Tokyo.
He attended a palace banquet for Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in May, prayed for the atomic bombing victims in Hiroshima, and joined a teenagers’ camp in the southwestern Japanese city in August.
Japan’s Parliament revised the Imperial House Law in July to allow adoption of male offspring from extremely distant former royal families and to let female royals keep their status after marrying commoners.
The revision was backed by conservative Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and criticized by protesters as an attempt to eliminate Princess Aiko from ruling.
At his debut news conference last year, Hisahito said he hoped to spend some time overseas to gain new perspectives and meet people from different backgrounds and cultures.

By AP

Published Sep 6, 2026 8:01 pm KST

In this handout photo taken by the Imperial Household Agency of Japan on Aug. 13 and released on Sept. 6, Japan's Prince Hisahito, right, visits the Science Museum of Map and Survey in Tsukuba, Ibaraki Prefecture, northeast of Tokyo, ahead of his 20th birthday. AFP-Yonhap

TOKYO — Prince Hisahito turned 20 on Sunday as he faces growing attention as a future monarch in Japan following the government's unpopular revision to the Imperial House Law that reinforces male-only succession rules.

Hisahito , the nephew of Emperor Naruhito , is second in line to Japan's 1,500-year-old Chrysanthemum Throne and the youngest of 16 members of the rapidly shrinking and aging imperial family.

The child who loved animals and bugs, especially dragonflies, is now a sophomore majoring in biology at the University of Tsukuba near Tokyo. He has been often spotted on campus with friends, sometimes carrying a bug-catching net or on his bicycle.

While he mostly concentrates on his studies, Hisahito started taking on some official duties. He attended a palace banquet for Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in May, prayed for the atomic bombing victims in Hiroshima and joined a teenagers' camp in the southwestern Japanese city in August.

Hisahito is often compared to his hugely popular cousin, 24-year-old Princess Aiko , who has impressed everyone with her ability to interact with people and make them smile. She is the emperor's daughter and most Japanese want her to be his successor, even though as a woman she is ineligible.

The revised succession law enacted by Japan's Parliament in July lifts a ban on the adoption of male offspring from extremely distant former royal families. It lets female royals keep their status after marrying a commoner, so they can continue to undertake official duties, but their future partners and offspring won't be royals.

The revisions to the 19th-century law have been criticized as anachronistic and sexist and led to protests from Japanese who see the changes, which were backed by conservative Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi , as an attempt to eliminate Aiko from ruling while justifying discrimination against women and a patriarchal system.

Experts say the measures will put Hisahito and his eventual wife under enormous pressure to bear a male child as they determine the future of the imperial family.

Asked about his future and marriage plans at his debut news conference last year, Hisahito said his main focus was to study and expressed hopes to spend some time overseas to gain new perspectives and meet people from different backgrounds and cultures.

“About marriage, I haven't thought about an ideal timing or a partner yet,” he said.

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