Emperor Naruhito of Japan's Life in Photos
Take a look back at how the world's only Emperor lives.
When Emperor Naruhito's father, Akihito, unprecedentedly abdicated in 2019, Emperor Naruhito acceded to the Chrysanthemum Throne, and his ruling era was named "Reiwa," which translates to “Beautiful Harmony.” He was the first emperor to have studied abroad, doing two years of research at Oxford, and the second, after his father, to marry a commoner.
Emperor Naruhito and his wife, Empress Masako, have one daughter together, Princess Aiko. Since they do not have a son, the throne will pass to Naruhito's nephew, Prince Hisahito, the son of Naruhito's brother, Fumihito. As a result, Fumihito is the Crown Prince.
Here, see photos of Naruhito throughout his life—from black-and-white childhood photos to present-day paparazzi shots.
1960
Naruhito, or Prince Hiro, was born on February 23, 1960, in the Imperial Household Agency Hospital in Tokyo Imperial Palace. He is the eldest son of the former Emperor Akihito and former Empress Michiko.
1961
Here, Prince Hiro holds the hand of his mother, Empress Michiko, who wears a traditional Japanese yukata gown while they walk on the grounds of the Togu Palace in Tokyo.
1961
Crown Prince Akihito and Princess Michiko hold Prince Hiro's hand as they walk on the beach in Japan in the summery month of June. Naruhito wears a white hat—both functional and adorable.
1963
The day before his third birthday, Prince Hiro poses for an official photo in a traditional kimono. Crane, ocean, and cloud motifs can be seen on the opulent cloth.
1965
Prince Hiro pushes a bicycle he just received for his fifth birthday.
1966
Prince Naruhito wears the uniform and the cap of his primary school, Gakushuin, as he walks around a field.
1968
In this precious photo, Prince Hiro paddles a wooden boat with his hands at the Children's Land playground in Yokohama.
1969
Prince Hiro confidently rides his horse in the park of the Togu Palace. Reportedly, he was able to jump over relatively low obstacles on horseback.
1971
The Crown Princess Michiko gazes lovingly at two of her children, Prince Hiro and Princess Nori, as they sit on an elevated tree branch in the park of the Togu Palace in Tokyo. Michiko wears a traditional yukata.
1972
Prince Hito practices the violin at Togu Palace. He continued playing multiple string instruments throughout his life, taking inspiration from his cellist father, Akihito, and his mother, Michiko, an accomplished pianist.
1973
Here, Prince Hiro plays tennis with Emperor Akihito, who loves the sport dearly, around the time of Hiro's 13th birthday at Togu Palace.
1974
![prince naruhito](https://cdn.statically.io/img/hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/prince-hiro-and-mr-k-yoshida-the-japanese-ambassador-prince-news-photo-1718740651.jpg?crop=1xw:1xh;center,top&resize=980:* "Prince Hiro, and Mr. K. Yoshida, the Japanese Ambassador.Prince Hiro, 14-year-old son of their Imperial Highnesses, The Crown Prince and Crown Princess of Japan, arrived in Sydney this morning. The Prince, who title is "Hiro-no-Miya", was on his way to Me")
Prince Hiro and the late Japanese Ambassador Shigeru Yoshida arrive in Sydney on their way to Melbourne for an unofficial two-week visit.
1977
Tomohide Gomi, Honorary Professor of Tokyo University, lectured Prince Hiro on the 'Manyoshu' poetry anthology for his 17th birthday.
1980
Prince Hiro wears the coronet presented to him during his coming-of-age ceremony at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo.
1986
Prince Hiro, 26, escorts Diana, Princess of Wales, at Shugakuin in Kyoto.
1993
Pictured here are Crown Prince Naruhito, no longer Prince Hiro, and Masako Owada, the second commoner to marry into the imperial lineage, during their official engagement at Togu Palace in Toyko.
1993
Crown Prince Naruhito of Japan and his future wife Masako Owada pose for photographs in traditional Japanese dress a couple of days prior to their wedding.
1993
Following their 13-minute private wedding ceremony on June 9, the newlywed Crown Prince Naruhito and the Crown Princess Masako bow before Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko at the Imperial Palace, expressing their gratitude.
1993
The two newlyweds pose for a post-wedding photograph. Masako wears a stunning diamond tiara and necklace set, while Naruhito wears a red sash and emblem symbolizing his imperial status.
1996
As part of a performance of "Rhapsody on a theme by Paganini for Piano and Orchestra" by the Gakushuin Orchestra, Crown Prince Naruhito played the viola.
Sofia Yadigaroglu is the Digital Editorial Intern for Town & Country where she covers fashion, culture, entertainment, and other life ‘essentials.’ A student at Amherst College, she studies English and Art History, loves to paint, and speaks four languages. Follow her at @sofiayadigaroglu on Instagram.
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