Prince Hisahito celebrates his 20th birthday and balances university life with activities as a member of the royal family

Prince Akishino and his wife's eldest son, Hisahito, celebrated his 20th birthday on the 6th. He is a second-year student at the College of Life and Environmental Sciences at the University of Tsukuba, and in addition to classroom lectures, he has deepened his learning through outdoor training and experiments.After his coming-of-age ceremony last September, he has also been involved in activities as a member of the imperial family, such as court events.

On the occasion of his birthday, the Imperial Household Agency released an update on his current situation. Currently, he mainly commutes from his residence in Tsukuba City, Ibaraki Prefecture, where the university is located, and also travels back and forth to his former residence in Akasaka, Tokyo. At university, he takes classes in specialized fields, as well as English classes to help him read biology papers and physical education classes.

On his 19th birthday on September 6th last year, he completed a series of events, including the ``Kakan-no-gi,'' the central ceremony of coming-of-age, and appears to have renewed his desire to ``fulfill his role as a member of the imperial family.'' Since attending the Empress's birthday celebration last December, she has also participated in New Year's celebrations, public visits, and imperial banquets to the extent that it does not interfere with her studies.

Continue observing dragonflies at the palace residence

Although the time he can spend at the palace is limited, he has been working on growing vegetables and rice this year as well as observing creatures such as dragonflies and their habitats.

Prince Hisahito is grateful to those who have supported him in various ways throughout the past year. He also mourns those who lost their lives in disasters such as earthquakes and heavy rain, and expresses his sympathies to the victims.