Royal Profile: Crown Prince Naruhito of Japan

Crown Prince Naruhito was born 23 February 1960 the eldest son of Emperor Akihito & his wife Emperess Michiko{Source}. As a child he was known as Prince Hiro(Hiro-no-Miya){Source}.

His coming of age ceremony took place on his 20th birthday in 1980 {Source}. He was official invested as Crown Prince of Japan on his 31st birthday, in 1991 {Source}.

Like most in the Japanese culture, his education was very important to him, and he achieved great levels. In 1982, he graduated from Gakushuin University with a degree in history {Source}. From 1983-1985, he studied abroad at University of Oxford's Merton College {Source}. In 1988, he competeled the first part of his doctoral degree back at Gakushuin{Source}. In 1992, he was a guest researcher in the archives of Gakushuin{Source}.

He married Masako Owada, who was a diplomat at the Japanese Foreign Ministery and a daughter of a International Court of Justice Judge. They were engaged on 19 January 1993 and wed later that year, on June 9th {Source}. Together, they have one daughter:

• Aiko, Princess Toshi (2001)

He is an honorary member of the World Commission on Water for the 21st century. He is also honoary member and patron of the Global Water Partnership. He served as patron of the Japanese Olympic Games Comittee, until 1998, when he became a member of the International Olympic Committee. He has also represented his father at various events around the world. He is honoary vice-president of the Japanese Red Cross Society since 1994 {Source}. As crown prince,  he has performed duties on his father's behalf during his father's absences, such as when he had heart surgery last year {Source}