Crown Prince Akishino, younger brother of Emperor Naruhito, marked his 60th birthday on Sunday. In a press conference at the Akasaka East Residence in Tokyo, he reflected on the 80th anniversary of World War II's end, noting opportunities to appreciate the continuation of peace. He addressed the shrinking number of Imperial Family members for public duties, suggesting a reduction in activity scale.
Crown Prince Akishino celebrated his 60th birthday on Sunday, November 30, 2025. As the younger brother of Emperor Naruhito, he held a press conference in advance at the Akasaka East Residence in Tokyo.
During the conference, the prince mentioned that this year marks the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. He spoke of having "opportunities to think about how precious it is that a peaceful world is continuing," particularly through a July visit with his wife, Crown Princess Kiko, 59, to Hiroshima, the city devastated by the U.S. atomic bombing in 1945, and other events.
When asked about his thoughts on reaching this life milestone, the Crown Prince said he considers time to be continuous and that his only thought is that he has lived through a 60-year cycle.
Regarding the decrease in Imperial Family members who can take on public duties, Crown Prince Akishino said, 'The only way now is to reduce the scale of activities.' Keywords such as Imperial family, Crown Prince Akishino, Prince Hisahito, and Crown Princess Kiko highlight the context of this event, which touches on discussions about the future of the Imperial Family.