Despite Criticism of King Spoon Privileges... Japan's Second-Ranked Prince Smiles with Sister

Prince Hisahito of Japan Celebrating Coming-of-Age Ceremony This Year
New Year Greetings with Sister Princess Kako
Controversy Over Special Admissions in Elementary, High School, and University

Prince Hisahito, the nephew of Emperor Naruhito and second in line to the throne, appeared with his older sister Princess Kako to offer New Year's greetings. With Prince Hisahito reaching adulthood, there are expectations that he will actively begin his role as the heir to the throne this year. On the 1st, Japan's Fuji News Network (FNN) reported, "Prince Hisahito and Princess Kako visited the Imperial Palace to offer New Year's greetings to the Emperor and Empress," adding, "Dressed in traditional Japanese attire, Prince Hisahito opened the window with his sister Princess Kako and waved with smiling faces."

Crown Prince Hisahito, the nephew of Emperor Naruhito and second in line to the throne, appeared with his older sister Princess Kako to deliver New Year's greetings. FNN news footage

Since Emperor Naruhito ascended the throne in 2019, according to the Imperial Household Law, the first in line to the throne is Crown Prince Fumihito, the younger brother of Emperor Naruhito, and the second in line is Prince Hisahito, the son of Crown Prince Fumihito. Emperor Naruhito has only one child, Princess Aiko, and no sons, but the Imperial Household Law Article 1 stipulates that "the throne shall be succeeded by male descendants in the male line."

Prince Hisahito has been surrounded by controversy since childhood. Japanese royals usually attend the Imperial Household Agency's school, Gakushuin, but he entered one of Japan's most prestigious private schools from elementary school. At the time, criticism arose that a system was newly established without royal precedent. Later, when he entered the affiliated high school of Tsukuba University, there was controversy over preferential treatment as he was admitted without an exam, based on documents and interviews.

In December last year, Prince Hisahito applied for and was accepted through the recommendation admission process of the Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences at Tsukuba University, a prestigious Japanese university. The recommendation admission process selects students based on the high school principal's recommendation, exempting them from the common test equivalent to Korea's CSAT. He was accepted based on his research achievements related to sleep, but criticism was raised that his royal background influenced this as well.

Prince Hisahito's coming-of-age ceremony is scheduled to be held this spring after his high school graduation. Adult members of the Japanese royal family officially attend royal events and ancestral rites.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.