"Prince Hisahito is the first male royal to reach adulthood in 40 years. He could also be the last in the world's oldest monarchy. Japan has marked Prince Hisahito's coming-of-age with a grand ceremony at the Imperial Palace, highlighting an ongoing succession crisis. The 19-year-old nephew of Emperor Naruhito received a black silk and lacquer crown on Saturday, symbolising his entry into royal adulthood."
"Thank you very much for bestowing the crown today at the coming- of- age ceremony, Hisahito said. I will fulfil my duties, being aware of my responsibilities as an adult member of the imperial family. Despite Emperor Naruhito having a daughter 23-year-old Princess Aiko she remains excluded by the imperial family's male-only succession rules. But public opinion polls suggest strong support for allowing women to ascend the throne."
"The elaborate palace rituals to formally recognise Hisahito as an adult are a reminder of the bleak outlook for the 2,600-year-old imperial line the world's oldest. Hisahito is second in line to the Chrysanthemum Throne and is likely to become emperor one day. After him, however, there is nobody left, leaving the Imperial family with a dilemma over whether they should reverse a 19th-century ruling that abolished female succession."
Prince Hisahito, the 19-year-old nephew of Emperor Naruhito, underwent traditional coming-of-age rituals at his family residence and the Imperial Palace and received a black silk and lacquer kanmuri crown. He bowed, thanked the emperor and his parents, pledged to fulfil his royal responsibilities, and changed into adult ceremonial attire. Hisahito is second in line to the Chrysanthemum Throne and is likely to become emperor, but no further male heirs currently exist, creating a succession dilemma under male-only succession rules amid public support for allowing female succession.
Read at www.aljazeera.com
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]