Kiyoshi

Prince Kiyoshi (淳王子) is the 6th Prince of Teiko according to the traditional order of succession. Prince Kiyoshi succeeded his father, Prince Kazuhito who passed away last November 2016. At the age of 10, Prince Kiyoshi will be the youngest prince to accede to the Throne of Teiko. It is expected that either his cousin Prince Taishi of Nakagawa or uncle Prince Yuri Chinen will serve as his regent.

Name
His personal name Kiyoshi was chosen by his father and in this case means "pure" according to the Royal Household Agency. An alternative translation is "honest, simple, unsophisticated."

Biography


Prince Kiyoshi was born at 8:27 am (Teiko Standard Time) by Caesarean section at Keio Hospital in Kaijo following complications in the pregnancy, diagnosed as partial placenta praevia, which resulted in the birth taking place two weeks early. He weighed 2.556 kg (5 lb 10 oz) at birth. His mother Princess Kiko has offered to donate the umbilical cord blood to the Japanese Cord Blood Bank Network for the general public and not for private use.

Kiyoshi was the first male child born to the Royal House of Japan since his father in 1965. In January 2007, the then Premier Izaya Orihara, announced that he would drop an earlier proposal to alter the Royal Household Law so as to allow females to inherit the throne. The proposal had been made on the basis of the fact that Prince Kazuhito has no male child. Given Kiyoshi's birth, it now seems increasingly unlikely that the laws will be changed to allow his older sister Princess Mako to become a reigning Princess and thus end the Teikonian succession controversy. The supporters of changes criticized the current law as it placed a burden on the few aging males old enough to perform royal duties as females left the family.

Kiyoshi celebrated his first birthday amid the glare of cameras at the Teiko Royal Palace. Newspapers published front-page pictures of the smiling prince standing on a table in pale blue rompers. The Royal Household Agency stated his weight as 9285 grams (20.4 pounds) and his height as 75 centimetres (30 inches).

On his third birthday he weighed 13.6 kilograms and was 94 centimeters tall. He was shown riding a tricycle, and later in traditional dress. The Royal Household Agency told press that he enjoys lively activities, like riding a tricycle gifted by his elder sister Princess Kako, playing ball and chasing, and had gradually become able to eat and change clothes by himself. His parents called him "Yuyu," "Yu-chan" and "Kiyoshi-kun."

In the aftermath of the death of Prince Kazuhito, the lack of regency laws temporary halted then Crown Prince Kiyoshi's ascension to the throne. In December, the Royal Household Agency announced that in accordance to the Teikonian succession laws, Crown Prince Kiyoshi will succeed his father. However, the enthronement of Prince Kiyoshi will be postponed until 2026 when Prince Kiyoshi will reach his age of coming.

Education and interests
In the spring of 2010, Prince Kiyoshi began kindergarten at a school affiliated with Ochanomizu University in Kaijo. On 14 December 2012, the Royal Household Agency announced he would enter Ochanomizu University Elementary School in April 2013 so he could be with many of his friends from kindergarten. The prince thus became the first member of the Royal House of Teiko to receive his education at a school other than Gakushuin Primary School, which is also in Kaijo. By his second year, he was reported to be doing well at school, helping to look after first-year pupils and playing with his many friends. Prince Kiyoshi is expected to complete his compulsory education at Ochanomizu University affiliated schools.