Japanese Prince Hisahito, second in line to the throne, held a press conference to announce his plans to balance his official duties with his university studies and his interest in research on dragonflies. Hisahito turned 18 in September, becoming the first male member of the royal family to reach adulthood in nearly four decades in Japan.
The prince expressed his admiration for Emperor Naruhito and other older members of the imperial family, mentioning that he plans to follow their examples as he continues with his university studies that will begin soon. In a statement to the media at the Akasaka residence in Tokyo, Hisahito emphasized the importance of the symbolic role of the emperor and his closeness to the people.
Hisahito is second in line to the Chrysanthemum Throne, after his father, Crown Prince Akishino. The Japanese Imperial House Law of 1947 stipulates that only men can succeed to the throne, preventing royal women who marry commoners from the line of succession.
Despite showing interest in biology and studying dragonflies at Tsukuba University, Hisahito has other hobbies such as growing tomatoes and rice in the palace grounds. The Japanese imperial family has a tradition of staying away from politics, so members often study disciplines such as biology, literature, and the arts, with particular interests in specific areas like Hisahito, who will focus on insect conservation in urban areas.
