Prince Hisahito of Akishino is the youngest of three children and the only son of Fumihito, Prince Akishino and Kiko, Princess Akishino.
Background
An alternative translation is "virtuous, calm, everlasting." His name was chosen by his father, and the Akishino family crest used to mark his belongings is koyamaki (Japanese umbrella-pine) tree. Prince Hisahito was born at 8:27 am (Japan Standard Time) by Caesarean section at Aiiku Hospital in Tokyo following complications in the pregnancy, diagnosed as partial placenta praevia, which resulted in the birth taking place two weeks early. His mother Princess Kiko has offered to donate the umbilical cord blood to the Japanese Cord Blood Bank Network for the general public and not for private use.
Career
He is third in line to become Emperor of Japan. His personal name Hisahito in this case means "serene and virtuous," according to the Imperial Household Agency. He weighed 2.556 kg (5 lb 10 oz) at birth.
He has two older sisters, Princess Mako of Akishino and Princess Kako of Akishino.
Hisahito was the first male child born to the Imperial House of Japan since his father in 1965. In January 2007, the Prime Minister of Japan, Shinzō Abe, announced that he would drop an earlier proposal to alter the Imperial Household Law so as to allow females to inherit the throne.
The proposal had been made on the basis of the fact that the two sons of Emperor Akihito had, at the time, no sons of their own. The supporters of changes criticized the current law as it placed a burden on the few aging males old enough to perform royal duties as females left the family.
Hisahito celebrated his first birthday amid the glare of cameras at the imperial palace.
Newspapers published front-page pictures of the smiling prince standing on a table in pale blue rompers. The Imperial Household Agency stated his weight as 9285 grams (204 pounds) and his height as 75 centimetres (30 inches). On his third birthday he weighed 13.6 kilograms and was 94 centimetres tall.
He was shown riding a tricycle, and later in traditional dress.
By his second year, he was reported to be doing well at school, helping to look after first-year pupils and playing with his friends. Hisahito is styled as "His Imperial Highness Prince Hisahito of Akishino".
Membership
The prince thus became the first member of the Imperial House of Japan to receive his education at a school other than Gakushuin Primary School, which is also in Tokyo.