Naruhito

Naruhito (born 23 February 1960) is Emperor of Japan. He acceded to the Chrysanthemum Throne following the abdication of his father, Akihito, on 1 May 2019, beginning the Reiwa era. He is the 126th monarch, according to the traditional order of succession.

Naruhito was born during the reign of his paternal grandfather, Emperor Hirohito. He was the first child of Crown Prince Akihito and Crown Princess Michiko (later Emperor and Empress). His father acceded to the throne in 1989 upon the death of Emperor Hirohito, making Naruhito the heir apparent. He was formally invested as Crown Prince of Japan in 1991. He attended Gakushūin schools in Tokyo and later studied history at Gakushuin University and English at Merton College, Oxford. In June 1993, he married the diplomat Masako Owada. They have one daughter: Aiko, Princess Toshi.

Continuing his grandfather's and father's boycott over the enshrinement of convicted war criminals, Naruhito has never visited Yasukuni Shrine. He is interested in water policy and water conservation. He was an honorary president of the 2020 Summer Olympics and Paralympics and is a supporter of the World Organization of the Scout Movement.

Before his accession, he was generally referred in the Japanese press by his princely title Kōtaishi (Crown Prince, 皇太子; lit. 'Great Imperial Son'). Upon succeeding to the throne he is referred to as "His Majesty the Emperor" (天皇陛下, Tennō Heika), which may be shortened to "His Majesty" (陛下, Heika). In writing, the emperor is also referred to formally as "The Reigning Emperor" (今上天皇, Kinjō Tennō). The era of his reign bears the name "Reiwa" (令和) pronounced [ɾeːwa] ^ⓘ, and according to custom he will be referred to as Emperor Reiwa (令和天皇, Reiwa Tennō; see "posthumous name") by order of the Cabinet after his death.

The name of the next era under his successor will be established after his death or before his abdication.

Naruhito was born on 23 February 1960 at 4:15 p.m. in the Imperial Household Agency Hospital in Tokyo Imperial Palace. As a prince, he later quipped, "I was born in a barn inside the moat". His parents, Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko, were then crown prince and crown princess of Japan, while his paternal grandfather, Hirohito, reigned as emperor. Reuters news agency reported that Naruhito's paternal grandmother, Empress Nagako, had driven her daughter-in-law and grandchildren to depression in the 1960s by persistently accusing Michiko of not being suitable for her son.

His childhood was reported to be happy, and he enjoyed activities such as mountain climbing, horseback riding, and learning the violin. He played with the children of the royal chamberlain, and he was a fan of the Yomiuri Giants in the Central League, his favorite player being No. 3, later team manager, Shigeo Nagashima. One day, Naruhito found the remains of an ancient roadway on the palace grounds, sparking a lifelong fascination with the history of transportation, which would provide the subject of his bachelor's and master's degrees in history. He later said, "I have had a keen interest in roads since childhood. On roads, you can go to the unknown world. Since I have been leading a life where I have few chances to go out freely, roads are a precious bridge to the unknown world, so to speak."

In August 1974, when the prince was 14, he was sent to Melbourne, Australia, for a homestay. His father, then the crown prince, had a positive experience there on a trip the year before and encouraged his son to go as well. He stayed with the family of a businessman named Colin Harper. He got along with his host brothers, riding around Point Lonsdale, playing the violin and tennis, and climbing Uluru together. Once, he played the violin for dignitaries at a state dinner at Government House hosted by Governor-General Sir John Kerr.