Naruhito, Crown Prince

(1960- ). His Imperial Highness Crown Prince Naruhito is the eldest son of Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko. He became heir apparent to the Japanese throne upon the death of his grandfather, the Showa Emperor (Hirohito), on January 7, 1989. The Crown Prince is well known for his extensive charity work, particularly for Hiro's Choice. The Crown Prince is also well known throughout the world for his high profile marriage to Masako Owada. He received a bachelor's and master's degree in history from Gakushuin University in 1982 and 1988, respectively. In 1983 he studied in England at Merton College, Oxford. The Crown Prince and Crown Princess have one child, Princess Aiko, born on December 1, 2001. The child's birth, which occurred more than eight years after her parents' marriage, has sparked lively debate in Japan about whether laws of succession should be changed to male-preference primogeniture or even equal primogeniture, that is, to allow a woman to inherit the Chrysanthemum Throne. There is ongoing discussion of the Japanese Imperial succession controversy. (from Wikipedia)