Japan’s Crown Prince Akishino becomes first in line to Chrysanthemum Throne with day-long formal proclamation ceremonies

Emperor Naruhito’s younger brother is one of just three heirs to the throne, alongside Akishino’s 14-year-old son Hisahito and 84-year-old uncle
The crown prince said he would ‘deeply ponder’ his responsibilities at ceremonies that had to be postponed from April because of coronavirus

Japan

Reutersin Tokyo

Published: 1:13pm, 8 Nov 2020

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Japan formally proclaimed Crown Prince Akishino the first in line as heir to the throne on Sunday, the last of a series of ceremonies after his elder brother, Emperor Naruhito, became monarch last year following their father’s abdication.

The day-long ceremonies at the palace had been scheduled for April but were postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic and have been scaled back as infection keeps rising, although Japan has escaped the explosive outbreak seen in many other countries.

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Japanese emperor’s brother Akishino formally becomes crown prince after pandemic delays

Under Japanese law, only males can inherit the throne, so Naruhito’s only offspring, 18-year-old Princess Aiko, is ineligible. Moves to amend the law lost steam when Akishino’s wife bore a son, Hisahito, in 2006.

Japan's Crown Prince Akishino, in orange robe, flanked by Crown Princess Kiko, left, with Emperor Naruhito, second from right, Empress Masako, right, and other royal family members at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on Sunday. Photo: Reuters

“I deeply ponder the responsibility of Crown Prince and will discharge my duties,” said Akishino, whose given name is Fumihito, wearing an orange robe in front of attendees, most of whom were wearing masks, according to footage from public broadcaster NHK.

Akishino, 54, is one of just three heirs to the throne along with Hisahito, 14, and Prince Hitachi, 84, the younger brother of Emperor Emeritus Akihito, who stepped down last year in Japan’s first abdication in two centuries.

Japanese Crown Prince Akishino leaves the Imperial Palace after being formally declared first in line to the Chrysanthemum Throne. Photo: AP

Changes to the succession law are anathema to conservatives, but debate over how to ensure a stable succession is likely to intensify.

One option is to allow females, including Aiko and Hisahito’s two elder sisters, to retain their imperial status after marriage and inherit or pass the throne to their children, a change that surveys show most ordinary Japanese favour.

Conservatives want to revive junior royal branches stripped of imperial status after the war.

This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as: Japan formally proclaims Crown Crown prince formally made first in line

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