Fumihito, Prince Akishino
From Freepedia
His Imperial Highness Prince Akishino (Fumihito) of Japan (秋篠宮文仁親王殿下 Akishino-no-miya Fumihito 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.
Contents |
Early life
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 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.
Education
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 Junglefowls, 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.
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) 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:
- HIH Princess Mako (born 23 October 1991).
- HIH Princess Kako (born 29 December 1994).
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 Prince Akishino of Japan
