Prince Hisahito attends his first news conference to mark his coming of age at the Akasaka Higashi Residence in Tokyo on March 3. (Provided by the Imperial Household Agency)

Photo/Illutration Prince Hisahito speaks at his first news conference to mark his coming of age at the Akasaka Higashi Residence in Tokyo on March 3. (Pool)

Prince Hisahito, second in line to the throne, expressed his resolve to fulfill his role as an adult in the imperial family at his first news conference marking his coming of age.

“As an adult in the imperial family, I am aware of my responsibilities and will strive to fulfill my role sincerely,” Hisahito told reporters at the Akasaka Higashi Residence in Tokyo on March 3.

Hisahito turned 18―Japan’s legal age of adulthood―in September and spoke for about 30 minutes without a script or notes to share his thoughts in his own words.

As the only male grandchild of Emperor Emeritus Akihito, Hisahito is second in line to the Chrysanthemum Throne after his father, Crown Prince Fumihito.

Reflecting on the role of the emperor as a national symbol, he said, “I believe it is about always thinking of the people and staying close to them.”

When considering the role of the imperial family, he said, “It is important to understand people’s lives and social circumstances.”

“I believe it is essential to value human connections, wish for people’s happiness and continue to empathize with them,” he added.

Among the issues he follows with interest, Hisahito mentioned climate change and recent natural disasters, including the Noto Peninsula earthquake and torrential rainfall.

Regarding the possibility of studying abroad, he said, “I will consider it while listening to my family’s opinions.”

Hisahito is currently in his final year at the University of Tsukuba’s Senior High School in Tokyo’s Bunkyo Ward.

He will attend the University of Tsukuba in April.

His coming-of-age ceremony is scheduled for his 19th birthday on Sept. 6, during his summer break so as not to affect his studies.

During the news conference, he described his personality by saying, “I tend to get nervous in various situations.”

One of the most significant themes in his life has been his deep interest in peace.

When asked about his perspective on war and history, he responded, “I believe it is important for people to understand one another’s perspectives, deepen their knowledge and work toward achieving peace.”

In August 2018, when he was a sixth-grader in elementary school, Hisahito visited Hiroshima with his mother, Crown Princess Kiko, where he paid tribute at the Cenotaph for Victims of the Atomic Bomb and toured the Peace Memorial Museum.

During his visit, he met Reiko Yamamoto, 86, who had been exposed to the atomic bomb when she was in the first grade of elementary school.

She recalled how attentively the young prince listened as she shared her experiences.

Hisahito responded with empathy, saying, “You have gone through so much hardship.”

When she expressed her firm belief that war―the killing of people by one another―must never happen again, he nodded in agreement.

Yamamoto hopes that the prince will continue to engage with people and broaden his perspective.

In February, Hisahito visited the Repatriation Memorial Museum in Maizuru, Kyoto Prefecture, with this year marking the 80th anniversary since the end of World War II.

According to sources, he prepared for the visit by speaking with experts on Showa Era history (1926-1989) and reading books about the Siberian internment of former Imperial Japanese Army soldiers after the war. 

At the news conference, Hisahito said, “The loss of countless lives and the immense suffering caused by war is so tragic that it cannot be expressed in words.”

“I would like to continue learning about peace by reading books and visiting historical sites,” he added.

(This article was written by Ayako Nakada, Yasuhiko Shima and Yuko Kawasaki.)

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