Princess Aiko (Princess Toshi) is the daughter of Naruhito, who was slated to become Japan’s 126th Emperor following Emperor Akihito’s 2019 abdication. Her birth sparked a national debate regarding the 1947 Imperial Household Law, which restricts the throne to male heirs. While a 2005 expert panel and Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi initially moved to amend the law to allow female succession – potentially making Aiko the Crown Princess – these efforts were halted after the birth of her cousin, Prince Hisahito. Hisahito’s arrival solidified the male line of succession, placing him third in line behind Naruhito and Fumihito.
Early Life and Education
Born on December 1, 2001, to then-Crown Prince Naruhito and Crown Princess Masako, Princess Aiko (formally Princess Toshi) arrived eight years into her parents’ marriage. Her birth was a significant international event, marked by unique gestures such as the Thai government gifting her two elephants. Notably, her parents broke from the tradition of having the Emperor name the child; instead, they chose the names Aiko (“one who loves others”) and Toshi (“one who respects others”) themselves.
Her schooling at the Gakushuin institutions was marked by both achievement and challenge:
Talents: She developed skills in piano, violin, and later the cello, joining the school orchestra.
Hardships: In 2010, she faced a period of school refusal due to bullying by classmates. She eventually returned to classes with the support of her mother.
Health: In late 2011, she overcame a bout of pneumonia that required hospitalization.
International Exposure: In 2018, she made her first solo trip abroad to attend a summer program at Eton College in the United Kingdom, where she studied British culture and stayed in student dormitories.
The Succession Debate
As the only child of the current Emperor, Aiko’s birth sparked a national crisis regarding the Imperial Household Law. Under current rules of agnatic primogeniture, only males can inherit the Chrysanthemum Throne. This led to two opposing viewpoints:
Reformers: Argued for “absolute primogeniture,” which would allow the eldest child, regardless of gender, to become the monarch.
Traditionalists: Argued that while Japan has had Empresses in the past, they were always “stop-gap” rulers from the male bloodline, and that the tradition of male-only succession must remain intact.
Legislative Turning Points
In 2005, an expert panel officially recommended changing the law to allow female succession. Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi was prepared to submit a bill to the National Diet in 2006 to finalize this change. However, these plans were halted when it was announced that Prince Fumihito and Princess Kiko were expecting a child. The birth of Prince Hisahito—the first male heir born to the family in 41 years—effectively ended the push for reform. Under Prime Minister Shinzō Abe, the proposal to allow female monarchs was officially dropped.
Family Ties and Public Role
Princess Aiko has maintained a close relationship with her parents, frequently joining them on official duties and meeting foreign dignitaries. In 2008, efforts were made to strengthen her bond with her grandparents, Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko, leading to more frequent family gatherings at the Imperial Palace. While she remains a prominent member of the Imperial family, she is currently excluded from the line of succession, which now flows from her father (the Emperor) to her uncle (Fumihito) and then to her cousin (Hisahito).
Net worth of Aiko, Princess Toshi
The estimated net worth of Aiko, Princess Toshi, is about $2 million.