Who is Emperor Naruhito?
In short: Naruhito has been the 126th emperor of Japan since 1 May 2019. He succeeded his father Akihito, who abdicated on 30 April 2019; his era name is Reiwa.
Profile
- Born: 23 February 1960 in Tokyo
- Reign: Since 1 May 2019, as the 126th emperor
- Era: Reiwa
- Parents: Akihito and Michiko
- Wife: Masako (married 1993)
- Child: Daughter Aiko (born 2001)
- Heir: His younger brother, Crown Prince Akishino (Fumihito) β as of October 2026
5 facts about Emperor Naruhito
- Naruhito took the throne after his father Akihito abdicated on 30 April 2019.
- The era of his reign is named Reiwa.
- From 1983 to 1985 he studied at Merton College, Oxford; his research dealt with the history of navigation on the Thames.
- He has been married to Masako since 1993; their daughter Aiko was born in 2001.
- Under the Imperial Household Law only male members of the imperial house may take the throne β so the heir is not his daughter but his younger brother.
The line in the present
With Naruhito the family tree reaches the present: through Akihito, ShΕwa, TaishΕ and Meiji the line leads back to the legendary first emperor, Jimmu.
Because succession is limited to male descendants, this youngest generation shows how closely a dynasty's rules are bound up with its family tree.
Frequently asked questions
Who is the current emperor of Japan?
Naruhito has been the 126th emperor of Japan since 1 May 2019 (as of October 2026).
Why can't Aiko become empress?
Under the Imperial Household Law only male members of the imperial house may take the throne. The heir is therefore Naruhito's younger brother, Crown Prince Akishino.
Who are Naruhito's parents?
Naruhito is the eldest son of Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko.
Sources
- Wikipedia β Naruhito β accessed 14 October 2026
- Wikipedia β Naruhito (German) β accessed 14 October 2026
More from the Japanese imperial house
Naruhito is the youngest generation of a line that reaches back into legend. Open the example tree to explore it generation by generation.