31 Facts About Naruhito

Naruhito acceded to the Chrysanthemum Throne on 1 May 2019, beginning the Reiwa era, following the abdication of his father, Akihito.

Naruhito is the 126th monarch according to Japan's traditional order of succession.

Naruhito was born in Tokyo during the reign of his grandfather Hirohito as the eldest child of Crown Prince Akihito and Crown Princess Michiko.

Emperor Hirohito died in 1989, at which point Akihito became emperor and Naruhito became the heir apparent.

Naruhito attended Gakushuin schools in Tokyo and later studied history at Gakushuin University and English at Merton College, Oxford.

Naruhito is interested in water policy and water conservation and likes to play the viola.

Naruhito was an honorary president of the 2020 Summer Olympics and 2020 Summer Paralympics and is a supporter of the World Organization of the Scout Movement.

Naruhito's childhood was reported to be happy, and he enjoyed activities such as mountain climbing, riding, and learning the violin.

Naruhito 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.

Naruhito got along with his host brothers, riding around Point Lonsdale, playing the violin and tennis, and climbing Uluru together.

When Naruhito was four years old he was enrolled in the prestigious Gakushuin school system, where many of Japan's elite families and narikin send their children.

Naruhito graduated from Gakushuin University in March 1982 with a Bachelor of Letters degree in history.

In July 1983, Naruhito undertook a three-month intensive English course before entering Merton College, Oxford University, in the United Kingdom, where he studied until 1986.

Naruhito did not submit his thesis A Study of Navigation and Traffic on the Upper Thames in the 18th Century until 1989.

Naruhito visited some 21 historic pubs, including the Trout Inn.

Naruhito joined the Japan Society and the drama society, and became the honorary president of the karate and judo clubs.

Naruhito played inter-college tennis, seeded number three out of six on the Merton team, and took golf lessons from a pro.

Naruhito first met Masako Owada at a tea for Infanta Elena of Spain in November 1986, during her studies at the University of Tokyo.

Naruhito proposed to her three times before the Imperial Palace announced their engagement on 19 January 1993.

Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako have one daughter, Aiko, Princess Toshi, born 1 December 2001 at the Imperial Household Agency Hospital in Tokyo Imperial Palace.

Naruhito plays the viola, having switched from the violin because he thought the latter "too much of a leader, too prominent" to suit his musical and personal tastes.

Naruhito enjoys jogging, hiking, and mountaineering in his spare time.

Naruhito is a supporter of the World Organization of the Scout Movement and in 2006 attended the 14th Nippon Jamboree, the Japanese national jamboree organized by the Scout Association of Japan.

For two weeks in 2012, Naruhito temporarily took charge of his father's duties while the Emperor underwent and recovered from heart bypass surgery.

Naruhito's birthday was named "Mount Fuji Day" by Shizuoka and Yamanashi Prefectures because of his reported love of the mountain.

The transition took place at midnight, and Naruhito formally began his reign in a ceremony later that morning.

Under Article 4 of the Constitution, Naruhito's role is defined as entirely ceremonial and representative, without even nominal powers related to government; he is barred from making political statements.

Naruhito's role is limited to performing ceremonial duties as delineated by the Constitution, and even then he is constrained by the requirements of the Constitution and the binding advice of the Cabinet.

On 23 July 2021, Naruhito opened the 2020 Summer Olympics hosted in Tokyo, just as his grandfather, Emperor Showa, had done in 1964.

Naruhito is expected to visit Indonesia in June 2023, which would be his first state visit.