The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1945-08-25
IL YEAR OLD AKIHITo
TsUcU NEXT IN LINE;
ALL THOUGHTS CARE
FULLY GUARDED

80 NAA4N4AG8
Next in line for the Japan
ese throne is a chubby. rud-
dy-faeed 11-year-old who is
much more interested in his
horses and model gliders
than in the divinity attribut-
ed to him by his 10000, 900
subjects.
Crown Prince Akihito Tsu-
ga No Miya would by tradi-
ton become the 125th en-
peror of Japan upon the
death or resignation of his
father, Hirohito.
The world actually knows
little of the newest heir APP
parent in a dynasty that
traces its line back to $50
BIC. and claims the Sun God
dess as its mother. And he
in turn knows little at first
hand about the world. His
every breath has been tire
lessly guarded, his every
thought carefully ichanneled.
His formal schooling began at
The age Of 3 when, as dictated by
Japanese custom, the baby prince
was moved into a household of
his own separate from his par
ents. As soon as he could talk, his
tutors. a nobleman and former
admiral, began his lessons in
grammar, history, Chinese clas-
sizes. English-and military tactics.
His rigid Theoretically en-
tirely an education-has not
danpened. his boyish traits. The
official comment on his tenth
birthday in 1913, explained that
while he paid special concern to
war developments he was err
thralled in manipulating various
kinds of machines.
The Japanese rejoiced wildly
Is booming, cannon proclaimed
ms birth on Dec. %, 1888, for
they believe that only male
child can carry on, the imperial
line. Four daughters, but no sons,
were born to Hirohito before
Akihifo. Another son, Prince
Yoxhi, now 8. and a fifth. daugh-
Ger have since been born.
Radio iTokyo's flowery praise
Of 40-year-old Prince Nobuhito
Takamatsu just before surrender
negotiations led to speculation
that he insight have been picked
90 become prince regent should
his brother, Emperor Hirohito,
step down. 0sy98i9@ 5-n
Takamatsu, an amateur photo
grapher and scientist, was the
imperial family's contribution to
the navy, although his war effort
the last three years apparently
was confined mainly to home
front charities.
In 1912 he was Whisked around
a state tour of Japan's stolen en-
pire.
His marriage Is years ago, in
1880, to Princess Kikuko Tobu-
gawa, then 10, was the social
event of the season in Tokyo. The
bridal couple toured Europe,
where they were cheered by mil
lions, and were greeted at the
White House by President Hoov-
CT.
Takamatsu returned Hfrom the
elaborate honeymoon to huge
western style palace, built for
him by the emperor, and to the
comparative obscurity of his post
|. as a lieutenant Ggl in the Jap
sfsese Navy (. f3,S .s,f4s5,
The youngest : ok Hirohito's
three brothers is Prince Mikasa
Takahito, now 20.
Hirohito's oldest brother,
suave, quiet Prince Yosuhito
Chichibu, might become prince
regent if the emperor were to die
or resign.
But in 1913 a London news
paper reported that he had been
arrested for sympathizing with
the Allies. Since then no infor-
nation on him has seeped outside
Japan.
chichibu, heir apparent to the
throne until the birth of Akihito
in 1897, is 43. He was one of the
most popular members of the inn
perial family and one of Japan's
most avid sportsmen before Pearl
Harbor. He learned to ski on Aus
TRAN holidays while an Oxford
student.
In 1929 he married petite Setsu
Matsudarra, daughter of a one
time Japanese ambassador to the
United States. She had attended
a Quaker school in Washington
for six years.
They toured Europe and North
America in 1887, visiting Hitler
in Nuremberg and representing
Japan at the coronation of King
George. They were entertained