Historic Male-only Succession Registers Shadow Japan's Awaited Royal Adulthood

Japan's Prince Hisahito Marks Coming-of-Age with Grand Ceremony

Japan held a grand ceremony at the Imperial Palace on Tuesday, marking the coming-of-age of Prince Hisahito, the second in line to the Chrysanthemum Throne. The Prince, who recently celebrated his Coming-of-Age ceremony, embarked on a series of traditional visits and rituals.

The day's ceremonies began at Hisahito's family residence, where he appeared in a tuxedo to receive a crown delivered by the emperor's messenger. The formal replacement of Hisahito's headcover with the black adult "kanmuri" crown marked his official coming-of-age.

Prince Hisahito then travelled by royal horse carriage to pray at three palace shrines. He visited the Tokyo palace to pay respects to the gods and ancestors, and later met Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako in the prestigious Matsu-no-Ma (pine room) after his prayers.

During the main ritual at the Imperial Palace, Prince Hisahito wore traditional pre-adult attire with a beige robe. Later, he changed into adult ceremonial black attire. During the ceremony, he bowed deeply, thanked the emperor and his parents, and pledged to fulfill his royal responsibilities after being crowned.

The ceremonial schedule included visits to the Ise Shrine, Emperor Jinmu's mausoleum in Nara, and his great-grandfather Emperor Hirohito's tomb near Tokyo. The prince expressed his intention to fulfill his duties as an adult member of the imperial family.

The palace rituals for Prince Hisahito are a reminder of the bleak outlook for the 2,600-year-old imperial line, the world's oldest. After Prince Hisahito, there is nobody left in line for the Chrysanthemum Throne, leaving the Imperial family with a dilemma over whether to reverse a 19th-century ruling that abolished female succession.

Public opinion polls suggest strong support for allowing women to ascend the throne in Japan. The next candidate for the throne after Prince Hisahito would be his uncle, Crown Prince Akishino (Fumihito), as the current line of succession allows only male members in the Japanese imperial family. However, Emperor Naruhito has a daughter, Princess Aiko, who is excluded from the succession due to the imperial family's male-only succession rules.

Prince Hisahito received a black silk and lacquer crown during the ceremony, symbolizing his entry into royal adulthood. On Wednesday, the Prince will attend lunch with Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and other dignitaries.

The coming-of-age ceremony for Prince Hisahito is a significant event not only for the imperial family but also for the Japanese people, as it marks the potential transition of power in the future.