Prince Akishino

Fumihito, Prince Akishino (秋篠宮文仁親王殿下 "Akishino-no-miya Fumihito shinnō denka") also known as Prince Fumihito (文仁親王 Fumihito "shinnō") (born 30 November 1965) is a member of the Japanese imperial family. He is the second son of the Emperor Akihito and the Empress Michiko and currently second in line to the Chrysanthemum throne. Since his marriage in June 1990, he has held the title of "Akishino-no-miya" (generally translated into English as Prince Akishino) and headed his own branch of the imperial family.

Early life and education

The prince was born 30 November 1965 at the Aoyama Detached Palace in Tokyo. His given name is Fumihito. His childhood appellation was Prince Aya (Aya-no-miya). He attended the elementary and secondary departments of the Gakushuin.

In April 1984, he entered the Law Department of Gakushuin University, where he studied law and biology. After graduating from the university, he studied the taxonomy of fish at St John's College, Oxford University in the United Kingdom from October 1988 to June 1990.

Upon the death of his grandfather, the Emperor Shōwa, in January 1989, he became second in line to the throne after his elder brother, Crown Prince Naruhito.

Prince Fumihito received a Ph.D. in ornithology from the Graduate University for Advanced Studies in October 1996. His doctoral dissertation was titled, "Molecular Phylogeny of Jungle fowls, genus Gallus and Monophyletic Origin of Domestic Fowls." He conducted field research in Indonesia in 1993 and 1994, in Yunnan Province in the People's Republic of China. When the current Emperor was still Crown Prince, he introduced tilapia to Thailand as an important source of protein. Tilapia can be easily cultured and Prince Fumihito who is also known as "catfish specialist," has managed to maintain and expand the aquacultural studies with the people of Thailand.

He is a big fan of the Beatles and an avid tennis player. As a student, Prince Fumihito ranked among top ten in the tennis doubles players in the Kanto Region which is Japan's largest plain that consists of seven prefectures.

Marriage

On 29 June 1990, Prince Fumihito married Kawashima Kiko, the daughter of Kawashima Tatsuhiko, professor of economics at Gakushuin University, and his wife, Kazuko. The couple met when they were both undergraduates at Gakushuin. Like his father, the present Emperor, the Prince married outside the former aristocracy and former collateral branches of the imperial family. Upon marriage, he received the title Prince Akishino (Akishino no miya - strictly "Prince of Akishino") and authorization from the Imperial Household Economy Council to form a new branch of the Imperial Family.

Children

Prince and Princess Akishino have two daughters and one son:

* Her Imperial Highness Princess Mako of Akishino (眞子内親王殿下) (born 23 October 1991)
* Her Imperial Highness Princess Kako of Akishino (佳子内親王殿下) (born 29 December 1994)
* His Imperial Highness Prince Hisahito of Akishino (悠仁親王殿下) (born 6 September 2006) [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/5337374.stm]

Since the third child is male, he is in the direct line of succession to the Imperial Throne and will eventually succeed to the throne, although this situation would change if Hisahito's uncle, Crown Prince Naruhito, produces a male heir or if the laws were changed following the Japanese imperial succession controversy. [http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060905/ap_on_re_as/japan_imperial_succession]

Functions

Prince Akishino serves as the president of the Yamashina Institute for Ornithology and the Japanese Association of Zoological Gardens and Aquariums. He is also the honorary president of the World Wide Fund for Nature Japan, the Japan Tennis Association, and the Japan-Netherlands Association.

Titles from Birth

*"His Imperial Highness" Prince Aya of Japan
*"His Imperial Highness" The Prince Akishino of Japan

External links

* [http://www.kunaicho.go.jp/e03/ed03-04.html Kunaicho | Their Imperial Highnesses Prince and Princess Akishino]
* [http://www.kunaicho.go.jp/eakishino/eakishino-kaiken2003.html Kunaicho | Press Conference by Their Imperial Highnesses Prince and Princess Akishino on the Occasion of the Birthday of His Imperial Highness Prince Akishino (2003)]
* [http://search.japantimes.co.jp/print/news/nn12-2004/nn20041201b2.htm The Japan Times | Prince Akishino regrets brother's remarks on Masako]

References