News On Japan

Crown prince ready to ascend throne but worries remain over Crown Princess Masako's health

Dec 02 (Japan Today) - With Emperor Akihito set to abdicate on April 30, 2019, the focus will likely shift to Crown Prince Naruhito, who will ascend the throne, and Crown Princess Masako, who has long been in a battle with depression.

While the elder son of the 83-year-old emperor looks certain to breathe fresh air into the world's oldest hereditary monarchy, scholars and royal watchers expressed caution over the increased burden and added public attention on the crown princess, who is still recuperating from stress-induced illness.

At a press conference on his birthday in February, the 57-year-old crown prince said, "I want to pursue the desirable shape of the imperial household sought in accordance with (changes in) each generation."

His message suggested that he stands ready to take the Chrysanthemum throne and add his own colors to the imperial household, scholars said, adding that they expect him to play a greater role in addressing international issues.

As a former career-track diplomat, the Harvard-educated crown princess is seen as the best supporter for the crown prince assuming such a role, they said.

"Emperor Akihito has worked hard to heal the scars of World War II and support vulnerable people. The crown prince is likely to continue some of those tasks," said Hidekazu Kanda, a journalist covering the imperial household.

But the new emperor's activities "will likely encompass more of an international agenda as he has shown keen interest in such issues as conservation of water, environment and animals," said Kanda, also a part-time lecturer at J.F. Oberlin University.

Just as the current emperor and Empress Michiko often kneeled down and offered words of comfort during their visits to disaster-hit areas, the new imperial couple will most likely inherit the same attitude and demonstrate their eagerness to be together with people, observers said.

News On Japan
POPULAR NEWS

A passenger car was captured speeding across the frame from left to right by a security camera just moments before a fatal crash in Iida City, Nagano Prefecture, that claimed the lives of four vocational school students.

A fire broke out on the evening of April 25th on an electronic billboard attached to the Yodobashi Camera commercial complex in front of JR Osaka Station, prompting a large emergency response. No injuries were reported.

Organic fluorine compounds known as PFAS—suspected to be harmful to human health—have been detected at concentrations exceeding the national provisional target in rivers and groundwater at 242 sites across 22 prefectures, according to a government survey.

The Japanese government will begin issuing blue tickets for bicycle traffic violations in April 2026, with fines including 5,000 yen for ignoring stop signs and up to 12,000 yen for riding while using a smartphone.

A 26-year-old woman was arrested in the early hours of April 24th in Kasuya Town, Fukuoka Prefecture, on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol. While admitting to the offense, she claimed, "I ate chocolate that contained alcohol."

MEDIA CHANNELS
         

MORE Society NEWS

After 77 years, Tokyo is set to return blue skies to Nihonbashi as the city buries its expressways underground and reimagines its historic heart.

The Emperor and Empress attended the Greenery Ceremony, an annual event honoring researchers who have made outstanding contributions in fields such as plant and forest conservation.

Nearly three months after a road collapse in Yashio City, Saitama Prefecture, authorities are preparing to resume the search for the missing truck driver as early as next week.

The Japanese government will begin issuing blue tickets for bicycle traffic violations in April 2026, with fines including 5,000 yen for ignoring stop signs and up to 12,000 yen for riding while using a smartphone.

A woman’s body discovered in a freezer at a residence in Nagahama, Shiga Prefecture, is now believed to have been concealed there for approximately four and a half years, police announced.

A 26-year-old woman was arrested in the early hours of April 24th in Kasuya Town, Fukuoka Prefecture, on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol. While admitting to the offense, she claimed, "I ate chocolate that contained alcohol."

A man who was charged with committing an act of abuse against his young daughter and distributing a video of the incident through a private social media group admitted to the allegations during his first court appearance.

A monkey walking upright on two legs was spotted in a residential area of Tokyo on April 23rd, drawing attention as it crossed a street in the rain before entering a nearby field and munching on crops.