(born 1933). Upon the death of Japan's Emperor Hirohito in January 1989, his son, Crown Prince Akihito, automatically assumed the throne. The new era of Heisei, Achieving Peace, began. The prince had already proved himself an effective spokesman for Japan during extensive travels abroad. At home he gave evidence of more democratic leanings than were customary in the royal house. (See also Hirohito.) Tsugunomiya Akihito was born on Dec. 23, 1933. At age 3 he was taken from the palace in Tokyo and raised by court chamberlains. Akihito spent World War II at Nikko, a town north of Tokyo. His schooling included several years of studying English with an American Quaker, Elizabeth Gray Vining. He was the first future emperor to attend school with commoners at an early age. After his investiture as crown prince in 1952, Akihito attended Gakushuin University and, like his father, took up marine biology. His reputation in the field was gained through the publication of a book about the goby (a Japanese fish). At 25, in another break with precedent, he married a commoner, Michiko Shoda, whom he met while playing doubles in tennis. Also as a departure from royal tradition, they decided to raise their children personally. Their two sons, Crown Prince Naruhito and Prince Akishino, were eventually sent to study in England at Oxford University. Their daughter, Princess Nori, attended a Tokyo university. Akihito was formally enthroned on Nov. 12, 1990. |