Prince Hisahito’s Coming-Of-Age Ceremony

The Japanese Imperial Family marked the Coming-Of-Age of Prince Hisahito of Japan with a series of ceremonies at the Imperial Palace of Tokyo on September 6th, which is the the rites have been held for a male member of the Imperial Family in 40 years, for the Prince who is set to become the 128th Emperor of the world’s oldest reigning dynasty.

In the morning, Prince Hisahito of Japan, the son of Crown Prince Akishino and Crown Princess Kiko, received the kanmuri headpiece for adult princes marking his coming of age from an Envoy of Emperor Naruhito before taking leave of the Crown Prince, Crown Princess and Princess Kako to make his way to the Imperial Palace.

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The Imperial Family gathered for the Kakan-no-Gi Ceremony at the Imperial Palace, in which Prince Hisahito received the crown marking his coming of age before bowing to Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako as well as Crown Prince Akishino and Crown Princess Kiko.

During the Kakan no Gi, His Royal Highness Imperial Prince Taruhito attended the ceremony by wearing ketteki no ho, a kind of costume for the Emperor and other male members of the Imperial Family when they were underage, and kucho kokusaku, a kind of forehead used for the Emperors and other male members from the Imperial family when they were underaged.

At the Kakan no Gi, the crown given by His Majesty the Emperor was added to His Royal Highness Imperial Prince Taruhito at the Ceremony of Receiving the Crown.

A crown called Enbino Ei is attached to the crown that is added to His Royal Highness Prince Taruhito at the Kakan no Ceremony. This Kashinoo-zuka is an old style of kakan used in the Heian dynasty, and has been handed down to be used especially during kakan (crown).

In our Imperial Household, the coming of age ceremony for male Imperial family members was the genpuku ceremony in ancient times, and a reliable example of this is the case in 714 when Emperor Shomu celebrated his coming of age at the age of 14 at the position of Crown Prince.

Prince Hisahito expressed gratitude to the emperor and Empress Masako for the crown before facing his parents and pledging to fulfill his duties as an adult member of the imperial family.

Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako

Crown Prince Akishino and Crown Princess Kiko

Princess Aiko, Princess Kako, Hanako, Princess Hitachi, Princess Tomohito of Mikasa, Princess Akiko of Mikasa, Princess Yoko of Mikasa, Princess Takamado of Japan and Princess Tsuguko of Takamado

Prince Hisahito changed before travelling in the ceremonial carriage to worship at the Three Shrines inside the Imperial Palace of Tokyo.

The ceremony of making a visit to the Kashikodokoro Koreiden Shrine is a ceremony in which His Royal Highness Imperial Prince Hisahito is worshipped in the three shrines of the Kashikokoro K.

Ceremonial Carriage No. 4 was used to move from the Palace of His Royal Highness Prince Hisahito to the Three Shrines of the Imperial Court

During the ceremony of enshrining himself in the Kashikodokoro Koreiden Shrine, His Royal Highness Prince Hisahito wore adult costumes such as hoeki no ho and a crown with a hem called Suiei.

In the afternoon, Prince Hisahito changed into ceremonial dress for the ‘Choken-no-Gi’ Audience Ceremony with Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako in the Matsu no Ma Stateroom at the Imperial Palace, where he was awarded the Grand Cordon of the Supreme Order of the Chrysanthemum.

“I am aware of the weight of my responsibilities, and I will devote myself further to my studies while building experience,”

In the presence of both His Majesties the Emperor and His Royal Highness Imperial Prince Taruhito, there are unishi no kamaboko, shiobiki hoshiburi, takamori gohan, salted boiled shrimp, tsukeyaki uzura, taihire, and kunenshu.

In the evening, a private Banquet was held at a Hotel in Tokyo, attended by 30 members of the Imperial Family led by Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako.