Japan's Future Emperor Is Only 19... But His Life Is More Complicated Than You Think

Prince Hisahido is Japan's future emperor. He is only 19 years old, but as the only young male heir, the fate of a dynasty that has existed for over 1,500 years rests entirely on his shoulders. Yet behind the public smiles, his life is far more complicated and far more painful than anyone on the outside could imagine. At just 12 years old, a stranger broke into his school and tried to kill him, and that was just the beginning. So what else has this young prince had to endure? What fate awaits him? Why do so many people believe that Princess Aiko should inherit the throne instead? And who could reportedly become his future wife? Watch the full video to find out. Don't forget to like and subscribe. Let's get started. Japan's imperial family is one of the oldest hereditary monarchies in the world, with a history that stretches back more than 1,500 years. But for centuries, the succession has followed a strict rule. Only male descendants through the male line can inherit the chrysanthemum throne. This rule became a serious problem in the early 2000s because Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako had only one child, their daughter, Princess Aiko. And without a son, the future of the imperial family suddenly became uncertain. For a time, Japan faced the possibility of a succession crisis. The government even began discussing whether the law should be changed to allow women to inherit the throne. And many people believed Princess Aiko could eventually become Japan's first reigning empress in modern history. But then, in 2006, everything changed. Prince Fumihito and Princess Kiko welcomed their third child, a baby boy. His name was Prince Hisahito, and his birth was not treated as an ordinary royal arrival. Tens of thousands of people lined the streets when the family left the hospital, hoping to catch a glimpse of the newborn prince. He was the first male child born into the Japanese imperial family in 41 years. But little did anyone know that his birth would eventually place an enormous burden on his shoulders. From the very beginning, his mother, Princess Kiko, wanted him to grow up around ordinary children, make real friends, and experience life outside the palace. So instead of sending him to the traditional royal school, she enrolled him in regular schools. He became the first royal in his family in a very long time to do that. He was not raised entirely behind palace walls, and for a while, his life seemed surprisingly ordinary for a future emperor. He also developed a deep fascination with nature, especially dragonflies. As a child, he became interested in studying them and spent time observing different species and collecting information about them. The media even nicknamed him the Dragonfly Prince. But this seemingly ordinary life would not last forever. In 2019, when Hisahito was just 12 years old, something deeply disturbing happened. A stranger somehow managed to enter his school and reach the classroom where the young prince studied. He then placed two knives on the desk where Hisahito was supposed to sit. Fortunately, the young prince was not in the classroom at the time, but the discovery immediately caused panic. Police later arrested a 56-year-old suspect who reportedly confessed that he had acted out of dissatisfaction with Japan's imperial succession system and that he had even considered killing the boy. As Hisahito grew older and approached his final years of high school, questions began to surface about his intelligence and academic abilities. Japanese media reported that he had scored only 20 points on a high school mock exam out of a possible 1,000. The story spread rapidly across the country. Prince Hisahito's IQ became a trending search term in Japan almost overnight. Then another controversy followed. Hisahito won an award for an article he had written in a children's non-fiction literature competition. But it was later found that many parts of it had been copied from another source without proper attribution, leading to widespread ridicule. But the most damaging controversy was still to come. Reports emerged that his mother, Princess Kiko, had allegedly tried to secure her son a place in the Faculty of Agriculture at the prestigious University of Tokyo through a special recommendation program, potentially allowing him to bypass the standard entrance examination required of other students. Critics immediately accused the imperial family of using its privileges to give him special treatment. Hisahito ultimately enrolled at the University of Tsukuba, where he studied biology. But many people continued to question whether his parents had pushed him into prestigious schools and academic environments that were beyond his abilities. Others argued that if he was one day going to become emperor, his character and ability to connect with people should matter more than academic achievement. But is Hisahito really going to become the next emperor? The current emperor's daughter, Princess Aiko, is deeply loved by the Japanese people, and many believe she would make an excellent ruler. However, under current law, she is not allowed to inherit the throne. Many people want that law to change. Surveys have shown that nearly 80% of the Japanese public support Princess Aiko becoming the next empress. Some reports have even claimed that around 90% of people oppose Hisahito's future succession, not because of anything he has done, but because they believe Aiko deserves the throne more. They see her as more qualified, more popular, and believe that the 1947 law preventing women from inheriting the throne is outdated and unfair. So who knows? The law could one day change, allowing Princess Aiko to inherit the throne, although such a change currently appears unlikely. But the pressure on Prince Hisahito does not end with his education or his future position. Even his future wife has already become the subject of public speculation. In 2024, Japanese media reportedly revealed that members of the imperial family had shown interest in Mana Ishida, a former child star who became famous across Japan at a very young age. Born in 2004, she is only two years older than Hisahito, the two are close enough in age to share many interests. Ishida is known for her intelligence and strong academic background, having earned a place at the prestigious Keio University. Because she grew up under intense public attention as a child star, some reports have suggested that she may already possess the resilience needed to handle the extraordinary pressure of life inside the imperial household. Of course, there has been no official confirmation that Mana Ishida will become Hisahito's future wife. When Hisahito was asked about marriage during his first press conference, he simply said that he had not thought deeply about it yet, but clearly the people around him have. On his 19th birthday in September 2025, Japan held a ceremony it had not held for a young man in almost 40 years. Hisahito wore traditional formal robes and was given a black silk crown. He then rode through the palace grounds in the same horse-drawn carriage his father had used in 1985. Finally, he bowed before the emperor and promised to fulfill his duties, fully aware of his responsibilities as an adult member of the imperial family. Today, Prince Hisahito continues to study biology. He plays badminton with his university club after classes and rides his bicycle like any other young man his age. But the reality is that he can never completely escape the future waiting for him. Because while Hisahito is trying to live his life like an ordinary young man, an entire dynasty is waiting to see what kind of emperor he will one day become. Do you think Japan should change its succession law to allow Princess Aiko to become empress? And do you feel sympathy for Prince Hisahito and the impossible pressure he lives under? Share your thoughts in the comments below. And that's it. If you enjoyed the video and want more like it, be sure to leave a thumbs up below in appreciation. And if you haven't already, you really want to subscribe, subscribe to my channel, and tick the bell icon so you get notified as I upload a new video every week. See you in the next video.