Japan - He may be third in line to the Imperial throne, but none of his new primary school teachers refer to 6-year-old Prince Hisahito with any honorific titles.

The only son of Prince and Princess Akishino, the young prince enrolled this week at Ochanomizu University Elementary School in Bunkyo Ward, Tokyo. He is the first male member of the Imperial family in the post-World War II era who will not attend Gakushuin Primary School.

The decision is said to be an effort by the prince's parents to ensure their son receives an ordinary education without any special treatment. As Prince Hisahito will one day succeed the throne--barring any changes to rules regarding the structure of or membership in the Imperial family--attending the primary school will help him prepare for life as a symbol of both the state and the unity of the Japanese people.

High regard for social life

"Akishinonomiya Hisahito."

During the school's entrance ceremony, a teacher read the prince's name aloud without adding any of his titles--just as if he were any other normal student.

"Yes," the little prince responded enthusiastically.

Eager to have their son acquainted with other children his age, the prince's parents enrolled him in a three-year course at the Ochanomizu University-affiliated kindergarten in April 2010.

On several occasions, his father, Prince Akishino, said, "We want him to gradually learn how to lead a proper social life as he advances [through primary, middle and high schools]."

His teachers and friends at the kindergarten referred to him as "Hisahito-kun," and he was not afforded special treatment or status as a member of the Imperial family. Although the prince and his primary school classmates will eventually come to understand his special position over the next six years, the school has said that at this point, it has no plans to treat him differently.

A 'natural decision'

Regarding Prince Akishino's decision not to enroll his son at the Gakushuin University-affiliated primary school, the Imperial Household Agency only said, "It is apparently a natural decision that places value on a familiar environment and friends."

Comparatively, students at the Ochanomizu University-affiliated school have parents who come from a variety of backgrounds, such as company employees, public servants and company operators.

As it is affiliated with the university, experimental teaching programs are often tested at the school. Each grade has 105 students across three classes, including 70 from the affiliated kindergarten. Its high school and university are for women only.

According to the agency official, Ocha-nomizu University Elementary School was chosen because "Prince and Princess Akishino believe that to become a symbol of the state in the future, it would be a valuable experience for the little prince to study with children from various backgrounds and be in touch with the feelings of common people."

Gakushuin has accepted many Imperial family members dating back to the pre-World War II era. "We regret that [Prince Hisahito] did not enroll at our school," Higashisono said.

Extracurricular studies

Before his enthronement, Emperor Showa studied such subjects as ethics, history and military education from top scholars and military personnel at a private school that was specially established for him.

Although Imperial family members have enrolled at schools in principle following World War II, scholars are invited to give them private instruction on selected subjects.

Crown Prince Naruhito, for example, was given private lessons on the Analects of Confucius from the time he entered primary school. Under his father's educational policy, he also studied the achievements and deeds of successive emperors during middle and high school.

Prince and Princess Akishino recently took Prince Hisahito with them to visit the tombs of Emperor Jinmu--Japan's first emperor--in Nara Prefecture, as well as the tombs of Emperor Showa and Empress Kojun in Tokyo and the Ise Grand Shrines in Mie Prefecture.

At each location, Prince Hisahito solemnly offered a tamagushi sprig from the sacred sakaki tree, with his parents.

Many agency affiliates believe the most important thing for Prince Hisahito is to closely observe the Emperor.

The Emperor was the first to ascend to the throne under the current Constitution and pioneered how to "dedicate himself to the people" as a symbolic emperor. Prince Hisahito often visits his grandfather, most recently at the Imperial Palace over the weekend.

"Learning about past emperors will broaden the prince's horizons. He may also garner insight as the nation's symbol by spending time with the Emperor," said Isao Tokoro, an expert on the Imperial family system and honorary professor at Kyoto Sangyo University.

Takashi Mikuriya, a political science professor at the University of Tokyo, expressed appreciation that Prince Hisahito is receiving an education in "ordinary surroundings," saying: "Emperors in the pre-World War II era rarely stepped outside their palaces. But after the war, the emperor began to interact with the people, prayed for them and encouraged them.

"The current Imperial family's current stance is supported by the people. It is necessary for a symbolic emperor to imagine the feelings of the people and to speak the words they need to hear.

This can only be learned through an appreciation of common knowledge."

Photos: Reuters, AFP, handouts

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