Overview

• The palace ceremony was held Saturday on his 19th birthday after a one-year delay to accommodate university entrance exams for his studies at the University of Tsukuba.
• Crown Prince Akishino said he hopes Hisahito will fulfill the responsibilities expected of an adult member of the imperial family.
• Crown Princess Kiko, who turned 59, expressed relief at the completion of the rites and encouraged her son to embrace his role.
• The concluding luncheon, hosted by Akishino and Kiko, brought together about 30 guests, including Princess Kako and Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba.
• It was the first such coming-of-age ceremony since Akishino’s 40 years ago, drawing renewed attention to male-only succession rules that remain unchanged.