by Scott Mehl and Susan Flantzer   
© Unofficial Royalty 2014

• Unofficial Royalty: Japanese Naming Conventions

Emperor Naruhito of Japan was born on February 23, 1960, at the Imperial Household Agency Hospital at the Tokyo Imperial Palace in Tokyo, Japan. He is the elder of the two sons and the eldest of the three children of Emperor Akihito and Michiko Shōda.  Born during the reign of his grandfather Emperor Hirohito, Naruhito was then second in line to the throne.

Naruhito has a younger brother and a younger sister:

• Crown Prince Akishino (born 1965), married Kiko Kawashima, had two daughters and one son
• Sayako, Princess Nori (born 1969), married Yoshiki Kuroda, lost her imperial status due to marrying a commoner, no children

Naruhito was educated at the Gakushūin (or Peers School) in Tokyo from the age of four and went on to earn his Bachelor’s Degree in History from Gakushūin University in 1982. He then studied at Merton College at Oxford University in the United Kingdom before returning to Gakushūin University, earning his Master’s Degree in history in 1988.

In 1986, Naruhito first met Masako Owada at a tea held in honor of Infanta Elena of Spain, and by all reports, was instantly smitten with the beautiful and intelligent Masako. Despite disapproval from the Imperial Household Agency, and Masako leaving Japan for several years to study abroad, the two continued their relationship. Initially, Masako refused Naruhito’s proposals, as it would mean giving up her career and conforming to the stringent guidelines of the Imperial Household. However, he finally convinced her, and she accepted his third proposal in December 1992. Their engagement was announced in January 1993, and the formal engagement ceremony was held that April. Finally, On June 9, 1993, Naruhito and Masako were married in a traditional ceremony at the Imperial Shinto Hall in Tokyo. Following the ceremony, and a change into more contemporary attire, the newly married couple processed through the streets of Tokyo.

• Unofficial Royalty: Wedding of Emperor Naruhito of Japan and Masako Owada

The couple has one daughter:

• • Princess Aiko ( born 2001)

Aside from many official duties, during his time as Crown Prince, Naruhito served as Honorary Vice-President of the Japanese Red Cross and Honorary President of the United Nations Secretary-General’s Advisory Board on Water and Sanitation. He also actively supported the World Organization of the Scout Movement. He undertook many official international visits and often represented his father Emperor Akihito at royal weddings and other events. He was very interested in water conservation served on the World Commission on Water for the 21st Century, and is the patron of the Global Water Partnership.

On December 1, 2017,  Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced that Emperor Akihito would abdicate on April 30, 2019, and that his elder son Crown Prince Naruhito would become Emperor.  In 2016, Emperor Akihito had expressed a desire to abdicate, citing his age. The last abdication occurred 200 years ago when Emperor Kōkaku abdicated in 1817.  Emperor Akihito succeeded to the Chrysanthemum Throne on January 7, 1989, upon the death of his father Emperor Hirohito, now known by his posthumous name Emperor Shōwa.

On April 1, 2019, it was announced that Naruhito will reign over the Reiwa era. The term for the new era comprises the two characters Rei and Wa. Rei means “commands” or “order” and also “auspicious” or “good”. Wa means “harmony” and is also used in the Japanese word for “peace” – hei-wa.

• Wikipedia: Reiwa period

On May 1, 2019, Naruhito ascended the throne as Emperor of Japan and the Presentation of the Three Sacred Treasures ceremony occurred. Several more ceremonies occurred – October 22, 2019: Enthronement Ceremony (Sokui-Rei) and November 14-15, 2019: Great Thanksgiving Festival (Daijo-sai). See the link below for more information about the accession and enthronement ceremonies.

• Unofficial Royalty: Ceremonies: Abdication of Emperor Akihito and Accession and Enthronement of Emperor Naruhito

There is male-line, male-only succession in Japan which means that Emperor Naruhito’s daughter cannot inherit the throne nor can any of her potential sons inherit the throne. There has been discussion about changing the succession but no action has been taken. Currently, there are only three people in the line of succession: Crown Prince Akishino (born in 1965, brother of Emperor Naruhito), Prince Hisahito, (born in 2005, son of Crown Prince Akishino), and Prince Hitachi (born in 1935, uncle of Emperor Naruhito). Probably, there will not be another person in the line of succession until Prince Hisahito marries and has a son.

• Unofficial Royalty: Japanese Succession Crisis

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State of Japan Resources at Unofficial Royalty

• State of Japan Index
• Japanese Emperors
• Japanese Imperial Burial Sites
• Japanese Imperial Dates
• Japanese Imperial FAQs
• Japanese Imperial Weddings
• Line of Succession to the Chrysanthemum Throne
• Profiles of the Japanese Imperial Family