25 Facts About Naruhito

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

Naruhito is the 126th monarch, according to the traditional order of succession.

Naruhito is the elder son of Emperor Emeritus Akihito and Empress Emerita Michiko.

Naruhito was born during the reign of his paternal grandfather, Hirohito, and became the heir apparent following his father's accession in 1989.

Naruhito was formally invested as Crown Prince of Japan in 1991.

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

Naruhito was an honorary president of the 2020 Summer Olympics and 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 stayed with the family of a businessman named Colin Harper.

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

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

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 Owada Masako, a staff member working at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, at a tea gathering 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.

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.

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.

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.