ABSTRACT

Toward the end of February, 1960, at the Togu residence of Crown Prince Akihito in Shibuya, Tokyo, a ceremonial bathing rite was held to pray for the health and literary ability of a male child. Shortly thereafter in a Meimei-no-gi, or naming ceremony, the little boy was identified as Hironomiya (Prince Hiro) and named Naruhito. This name consisted of two Chinese ideographs, personally selected by Emperor Hirohito from a list recommended by noted scholars of the Chinese classics. For many Japanese, the long line of Japanese emperors was thus assured for another generation and the stability of Japan thus freshly guaranteed.