Prince Hisahito of Akishino

"Prince Hisahito" redirects here. For Emperor Go-Saga's fourth son, see Emperor Go-Fukakusa.
Prince Hisahito
悠仁親王
Full name
Hisahito (悠仁)
House Imperial House of Japan
Father Fumihito, Prince Akishino
Mother Kiko, Princess Akishino
Born 6 September 2006
Aiiku Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
Religion Shinto
Japanese Imperial Family



HIH The Prince Mikasa
HIH The Princess Mikasa

Prince Hisahito (悠仁親王 Hisahito Shinnō, born 6 September 2006) is the third child and only son of Fumihito, Prince Akishino and Kiko, Princess Akishino.[1][2] He is third in line to become Emperor of Japan.

Name

His personal name Hisahito in this case means "serene and virtuous," according to the Imperial Household Agency. An alternative translation is "virtuous, calm, everlasting." His name was chosen by his father, and the Akishino family crest used to mark his belongings is koyamaki (Japanese Umbrella-pine) tree.

Biography

Prince Hisahito was born at 8:27 am (Japan Standard Time) by Caesarean section at Aiiku Hospital in Tokyo following complications in the pregnancy, diagnosed as partial placenta praevia, which resulted in the birth taking place two weeks early. He weighed 2.556 kg (5 lb 10 oz) at birth. His mother Princess Kiko has offered to donate the umbilical cord blood to the Japanese Cord Blood Bank Network for the general public and not for private use.[3]

Japanese newspapers announcing the birth of the third in line

Hisahito was the first male child born to the Imperial House of Japan since his father in 1965. In January 2007, the then Prime Minister of Japan, Shinzō Abe, announced that he would drop an earlier proposal to alter the Imperial Household Law so as to allow females to inherit the throne. The proposal had been made on the basis of the fact that the two sons of Emperor Akihito had, at the time, no sons of their own. Given Hisahito's birth, it now seems increasingly unlikely that the laws will be changed to allow Hisahito's cousin, Princess Aiko, daughter and only child of the heir apparent to the throne, Crown Prince Naruhito, to become a reigning Empress and thus end the Japanese succession controversy. [4] The supporters of changes criticized the current law as it placed a burden on the few aging males old enough to perform royal duties as females left the family. [5]

Hisahito celebrated his first birthday amid the glare of cameras at the imperial palace. Newspapers published front-page pictures of the smiling prince standing on a table in pale blue rompers. The Imperial Household Agency stated his weight as 9285 grams (20.4 pounds) and his height as 75 centimetres (30 inches).[6]

On his third birthday he weighed 13.6 kilograms and was 94 centimetres tall. He was shown riding a tricycle, and later in traditional dress. The Imperial Household Agency told press that he enjoys lively activities, like riding a tricycle gifted by his elder sister Princess Kako, playing ball and chasing, and had gradually become able to eat and change clothes by himself. His parents called him "Yuyu," "Yu-chan" and "Hisahito-kun."[7]

Education and interests

In the spring of 2010, Prince Hisahito began kindergarten at a school affiliated with Ochanomizu University in Tokyo; on 14 December 2012, the Imperial Household Agency announced he would enter Ochanomizu University Elementary School in April 2013 so he could be with many of his friends from kindergarten. The prince thus became the first member of the Imperial House of Japan to receive his education at a school other than Gakushuin Primary School, which is also in Tokyo.[8] By his second year, he was reported to be doing well at school, helping to look after first-year pupils and playing with his many friends.[9]

Titles and styles

Styles of
Prince Hisahito of Akishino
Reference style His Imperial Highness
Spoken style Your Imperial Highness
Alternative style Sir

Ancestry

See also

References

  1. "Japan princess gives birth to boy". BBC News. 6 September 2006. Retrieved 5 September 2006.
  2. Walsh, Bryan (5 September 2006). "Japan Celebrates: It's a Boy!". Time. Retrieved 5 September 2006.
  3. "Imperial baby joins his mother". The Japan Times. 8 September 2006. Retrieved 8 September 2006.
  4. "Life in the Cloudy Imperial Fishbowl," Japan Times. 27 March 2007.
  5. "The Future of Japan’s Dwindling Imperial Family". Retrieved 26 July 2014.
  6. AFP.google.com, Japan's new prince turns one amid public glare
  7. Prince Hisahito turns 3+
  8. The Japan Times - Prince Hisahito to enter Ochanomizu University Elementary School
  9. "Prince Hisahito, third in line to Imperial throne, turns 8". The Japan Times. 6 September 2014. Retrieved 10 March 2014.

External links

"Their Imperial Highnesses Prince and Princess Akishino and their family". Imperial Household Agency.

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Prince Hisahito of Akishino
Born: 6 September 2006
Lines of succession
Preceded by
The Prince Akishino
Line of succession to the Japanese throne
3rd position
Succeeded by
The Prince Hitachi
Order of precedence in Japan
Preceded by
The Prince Akishino
Gentlemen
HIH Prince Hisahito of Akishino
Succeeded by
The Prince Hitachi