Royal houses all over the world are facing great change. While Europe is being led by a generation of women set to ascend to their respective thrones, Japan's Imperial House is setting the stage for a new chapter that will not deviate from tradition. Prince Hisahito, the young man set to inherit the Chrysanthemum Throne, made his formal court debut at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo during the State Banquet in honor of the President of the Philippines. Seated beside Princess Aiko, the two figures represent the center of the dynasty's future and the differences imposed by their gender.
© JAPAN POOL / JIJI PRESS/AFP viaPrince Hisahito's Debut
The "dragonfly" prince made his debut at the Imperial Palace of Tokyo before the Philippine presidential couple. President Marcos Jr. raised a toast before Emperor Naruhito in a visit of historic significance: no State Visit of this rank had taken place in Japan since March 2025, when President Lula and his wife were received.
Dressed in a morning coat in accordance with the palace's white tie protocol, the 19-year-old prince took his place beside Princess Aiko, the daughter of Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako. Despite the tight constraints of imperial protocol, the two conducted themselves with ease and warmth.
© Kazuki Oishi/Sipa USAHisahito is the son of Prince Fumihito, heir to the Chrysanthemum Throne and brother of the reigning emperor. While succession would naturally fall to Princess Aiko, Japanese law bars women from holding the Crown. This makes Hisahito second in the line of succession and the youngest member of the Imperial Court. His presence at the State Banquet marks a significant institutional step. According to the Imperial Household Agency, his attendance did not alter his regular schedule; he balanced the engagement alongside his university studies.
Imperial jewels were conspicuously absent from the evening. As has become the norm in recent State Visits, the diplomatic tone favored restraint over splendor, setting for a quiet protocol shift that has also grown more common among European monarchies.
Prince Hisahito's Daily Life
© Kyodo News/Sipa USAHisahito is currently studying biology at the Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences at the University of Tsukuba, where his academic work intersects with one of his greatest passions: observing nature.
His responsibilities have grown steadily since coming of age, a transition inseparable from the abdication of his grandfather, Emperor Akihito. This decision elevated his uncle Naruhito to the Chrysanthemum Throne in May 2019, moving Hisahito into the second position in the line of succession. At his coming-of-age ceremony, he addressed his new role with humility: "I intend to approach each of my duties with care and fulfill my role as an adult member of the Imperial Family, with an awareness of my position and guided by the counsel of those around me," he said, as reported by HOLA! Spain.
With his court debut now behind him, Hisahito begins to give shape to the role he'll serve in the world's oldest dynasty. Japan watches as a new generation steps into the Chrysanthemum Throne, while Princess Aiko embodies the other side of that story.
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