Prince Hisahito, 2nd in line to throne, reaches adulthood

Amid concerns over stable continuation of the imperial family, the male succession rules have been questioned on a number of occasions, most notably under the government of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi in 2005 when an expert panel called for allowing women to succeed to the throne as well as scrapping the rule allowing descent only through the male line.

But the debate quickly lost steam when Prince Hisahito was born in September 2006 as the first new male member of the imperial family in nearly 41 years.

More precisely, the debate was paused when the news of Princess Kiko’s pregnancy was whispered to PM Koizumi by one of his advisers during a televised diet session months before Prince Hisahito’s birth.

Who cares!

Maybe it's just me, but I take issue with a person who has led a sheltered life, who has been given everything and who has never had to work for or earn anything, being called an "adult." He's "older," but not an adult. At least his big sister is washing her own clothes now.

Happy Birthday to the kid. Definitely doesn't look 18 though!

That Aiko san, whom it appears has an actual job, is not allowed to be a successor, which she is, to the Japan Imperial Throne is a travesty.

There's no doubts that she is sharper than the lot of them, excluding her mother, Masako san.

Anyone notice how quickly news of Masako san's recognition/award at Oxford on recent trip to UK was buried? Can't have a female in the Palace With brains.

Happy birthday to the young man, turning 18 is great. Hope he lives a full and happy adult life, cherishing the position that he was born into.

Nearly all Japanese would prefer to see Aiko on the throne rather than him.

In fact, Japan has had eight empresses in its history, with the last one reigning from 1762 to 1771.

It was only after the Meiji Restoration, when Japan copied the male-only succession law from Prussia, that it became impossible for a woman to ascend the throne. Japan should return to its original system.

”Adulthood”? It seems like there is a distinction between adulthood at 18 and at 20 the latter being marked by “coming of age” ceremonies every January.

What is the difference?

Happy Birthday!

Emperor Heisei (Akihito) married a commoner (Michiko Shoda). Their offspring are therefore 50% royal. Both the present Emperor and his brother, Akishino, married commoners, making their offspring 25% royal. Of course many past emperors were the offspring of concubines, many of whom were also commoners. So the royal bloodline -- meaning direct descendants of the legendary first emperor Jimmu some 2,684 years ago -- represents more of acceptance on the basis of faith than actual royal lineage. Of course they are all Japanese, except for some cases of DNA exchanging with Korean royals back in ancient times. The succession system worked fine until the 20th century, when monogamy became the practice.

"Prince Hisahito, 2nd in line to throne, reaches adulthood."

Congratulations Prince Hisahito, wishing you a great and happy birthday.

Happy Birthday, Tenno Heika Banzai! May Japan always be peaceful and prosper under the throne of Chrysanthemum Throne

The comment that this young man was given everything and did not have to work for it. This is not the British Royal Family; the Japanese Royal Children must study and study harder and learn etiquette rules simultaneously that are very strict. The Japanese Royal children have very little freedom and have high expatiations placed on them, without the freedom of expressing themselves and must obey the orders of others outside the family.

good, now tell him to get a job. learn some life experience.

Princess Kako, the prince's 29-year-old sister.

She is my favorite Japanese Royal family member...

His life is all set up. No biggie.

What's with all the downvotes for a fella that just turned 18?

You can choose your friends but you can't choose your family.

Why downvote him?

Bitter folk.

I also used to be baffled by the Japanese insistence on a male successor in our times, until a Japanese explained it to me: It is the Y chromosome that guarantees, that the bloodline to the first emperor remains intact. Therefore it does not matter, how many commoners or concubines or whatever are also in the bloodline, as long as the Y remains in the next generation, the line is intact. Even though there have been empresses in the past, they only served as "placeholders" until a male with the proper Y chromosome could take over again.

I don't know how historically sound this is, but it does make sense, why Japan does not want to change the system. As far as I can see, the only course of action therefore would be, to reinstate family branches again, who do have males now with the proper bloodline. They should go for it.

And happy birthday Prince Hisahito!

@Mie Fox

The Y chromosome was discovered long after the age of concubines, 1905, so that argument is BS.