Who is Naruhito, Japan’s likely next emperor?
TOKYO — Japanese Emperor Akihito’s video message this week, though subtle, suggested that he wishes to abdicate, and the attention now goes to his elder son, the first in line to Japan’s Chrysanthemum throne.
In his 10-minute recorded message Monday, Akihito primarily cited his old age and concerns that it may become difficult for him to fulfil his duties, but some palace watchers say a hidden reason for his desired abdication might be his successor.
Like his father, the son, Naruhito, is a soft-spoken and smiley man. A bit stocky at age 56, he’s married to a Harvard-educated former diplomat, Masako, who has been ill for more than a decade and seldom appears in public. But she is better known abroad and his presence is often eclipsed whenever she comes out.
Having a father who has tried to break down Japan’s ancient imperial traditions to bring his cloistered family closer to the nation, Naruhito was raised as a new breed of royals who grew up in a family seen as a model for the nation. His name in Chinese character means a person with heavenly virtues.