Akihito occupation ichthyologist
Ichthyological research
In extension of his father's interest in marine biology, who published taxonomic works on the Hydrozoa, the Emperor Emeritus is a published ichthyological researcher, and has specialized in studies within the taxonomy of the family Gobiidae. He has written papers for scholarly journals such as Gene, Ichthyological Research, and the Japanese Journal of Ichthyology.
He has also written papers about the history of science during the Edo and Meiji eras, which were published in Science and Nature. In 2005, a newly described goby was named Exyrias akihito in his honour, and in 2007 a genus Akihito of gobies native to Vanuatu also received his name. In 2021, the Imperial Household Agency announced Akihito had discovered two new species of goby fish. The discovery was cataloged in an English-language journal published by the Ichthyological Society of Japan.In 1965, then-Crown Prince Akihito sent 50 Nile tilapia to Thai emperor Bhumibol Adulyadej in response to a request for fish that could solve malnutrition issues in the country. The species has since become a major food source in Thailand and a major export.
 Member of the Ichthyological Society of Japan
 Foreign member of the Linnean Society of London (1980)
 Honorary member of the Linnean Society of London (1986)
 Research associate of the Australian Museum
 Honorary member of the Zoological Society of London (1992)
 Honorary member of the Research Institute for Natural Science of Argentina (1997)
 Honorary degree of the Uppsala University (2007)
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