Japan's Prince Hisahito turns 18, first male royal to reach adulthood in nearly 40 years

Prince Hisahito’s 18th birthday sparks debate over Japan’s male-only royal succession amid a shrinking pool of heirs.

In a significant moment for Japan’s royal family, Prince Hisahito celebrated his 18th birthday on Friday, marking the first time in nearly four decades that a male royal has reached adulthood. 

This milestone is especially crucial for Japan’s imperial family, which has ruled for over a millennium but now grapples with the challenges of a fast-aging population and a shrinking pool of heirs.

Prince Hisahito, nephew to Emperor Naruhito and son of Crown Prince Akishino, is the youngest of the 17-member imperial family, which currently includes only four men. 

Hisahito is next in line to the throne after his father, making him a key figure in the future of Japan’s monarchy. 

His father, Akishino, was the last male to come of age in the royal family, back in 1985.

However, Hisahito’s status as the last apparent heir highlights a looming issue for Japan’s imperial system, which currently does not permit women to ascend the throne. 

The 1947 Imperial House Law restricts succession to male members of the family and strips female royals of their status if they marry commoners.

This has left Japan’s royal family in a precarious position, with limited male heirs to ensure the continuation of the monarchy.

Hisahito’s older cousin, Princess Aiko, daughter of Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako, remains a popular choice among the public as a future empress. 

However, despite her direct lineage, the current law forbids her from becoming empress, even though she has gained favor due to her education and public appearances.

The succession chart is straightforward: Emperor Naruhito currently reigns, with his brother Akishino as the second in line. Hisahito follows next, the only remaining young male heir.

An earlier proposal to allow a female to succeed the throne was dismissed shortly after Hisahito's birth in 2006.

In a recent statement, Prince Hisahito shared his thoughts on this milestone, saying, “Right now I would like to cherish my remaining time in high school.” 

His interest in nature, particularly insects, has led him to co-author an academic paper on dragonflies found on the grounds of his Akasaka estate in Tokyo.

As Hisahito comes of age, the Japanese government faces mounting pressure to consider alternatives to the male-only succession rule. 

A government-commissioned panel in January 2022 proposed allowing female members of the royal family to retain their status after marrying commoners, a move that could help prevent the decline in the royal population. 

The panel also suggested adopting male descendants from now-defunct royal families to preserve the male lineage.

Critics, however, argue that these measures will do little to secure the future of the imperial family. 

They point out that the male-only succession model was only sustainable in earlier times through the use of concubines, a practice no longer viable in modern society.

With Prince Hisahito now stepping into adulthood, the debate over Japan’s imperial succession continues, and the future of the monarchy remains uncertain.