Prince Hisahito, the nephew of Emperor Naruhito and second in line to the Chrysanthemum Throne, went through a series of traditional ceremonies on Saturday to commemorate his coming of age, becoming the first male member of Japan’s imperial family to undergo the rites in around 40 years. After turning 18 in September last year, the prince became the imperial family’s first male member to reach adulthood since his father, Crown Prince Fumihito, in November 1985. But the official ceremonies were postponed by a year to avoid disrupting his university entrance exam preparations. At a ritual for receiving a crown marking his coming of age, attendants removed a black silk headband from the head of the seated Prince Hisahito and replaced it with an adult crown bestowed by Emperor Naruhito. The emperor and his wife, Empress Masako, as well as the prince’s parents, Crown Prince Fumihito and Crown Princess Kiko, served as witnesses.
The prince then changed into adult ceremonial attire and rode in a state carriage to the Imperial Palace Sanctuaries to perform formal worship in honour of the family’s ancestors. In the afternoon, he will have an audience with the emperor and empress in the prestigious Matsu no Ma stateroom of the Imperial Palace. He will also be awarded the Grand Cordon of the Supreme Order of the Chrysanthemum.
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