Japan's Prince Hisahito Vows to Balance Royal Duties and Studies in First Public Address

The 18-year-old, second in line to the Chrysanthemum Throne, expressed commitment to his role while preparing to begin university studies in biology.

Prince Hisahito, second in line to Japan's throne, held his first press conference, emphasizing his commitment to fulfilling royal responsibilities as an adult member of the imperial family.
The prince plans to study biology at Tsukuba University, focusing on dragonflies and urban insect conservation, while balancing his royal duties.
Hisahito, who turned 18 last September, is the first male in the Japanese imperial family to reach adulthood in nearly 40 years, highlighting the monarchy's succession challenges under male-only rules.
He expressed concern about climate change and shared personal interests such as growing vegetables and rice on the palace grounds.
Japan's strict succession laws, which exclude women from the throne, remain a topic of debate, with public support for female succession at 90% but resistance from conservative lawmakers.