Silent Stories of a Future Monarch

(ANN/THE JAPAN NEWS) – A person intimately connected to Japanese Emperor Naruhito’s formative years in Britain has told The Japan News 18 never-before-seen photographs that offer a rare and poignant glimpse into the then-prince’s life .

These candid images, capturing moments of unfailing authenticity, reveal a young man at the dawn of his future, free from the weight of the crown and public attention.

The Emperor attended Oxford University in England from June 1983 to October 1985, between the ages of 23 and 25. His time there was dedicated to deepening his interest in historical research and gaining a broader understanding of the world.

Many of these photographs were taken during his travels in the United Kingdom and across Europe. The Emperor’s thoughts on these destinations are detailed in his memoir “Temuzu to Tomoni” (The Thames and Me: A Memoir of Two Years at Oxford), which recounts his experiences during his time at Oxford.

One particularly striking photo shows the emperor relaxing with Spain’s crown prince, now King Felipe, on the idyllic island of Majorca. This image, like the others, offers a rare and intimate glimpse into the life of a young man who would one day become emperor, capturing moments of friendship and leisure.

Climbing mountains

The emperor had climbed some of Japan’s 100 most famous mountains and, upon his arrival in the United Kingdom, wanted to climb the highest peaks in England, Scotland and Wales, according to his memoirs.

In the summer of 1985, the Emperor and some of his comrades climbed Scafell Pike in northern England, a climb that took 3 and a half hours.

No matter how much he climbed, the peak did not appear easily, which made him feel the importance of this mountain, the emperor wrote.

With this ascent, the Emperor achieved his goal of conquering the highest peaks of the three countries.

At the sea

In addition to a walk along the Thames basin, which was the subject of his research, the emperor’s memoirs describe his tour around the city of Dover, which faced continental Europe. He also spent time at a villa on Sark – one of the Channel Islands – at the invitation of the chairman of Lloyd’s.

Another photo shows his observation of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution training off the coast of Wales. In the photo, the emperor is dressed in a lifeguard uniform and leans out to sea from a lifeboat. The smile on his face indicates that he is enjoying this experience which could not have happened in Japan.

Contact with people

The Emperor was invited to the homes of the aristocracy of the United Kingdom. For example, there is a photo of him relaxing with the family of Lord Cranborne, with whom he enjoyed playing sports.

The Emperor also traveled the European continent during his university vacations, visiting a total of 14 countries.

Besides Spain, he was warmly welcomed by the royal families of the Netherlands, Belgium, Norway, Liechtenstein and other countries. He wrote that the hospitality he received came from the friendships his parents had made over the years and that he felt a strong need to continue it.

A music lover, the Emperor visited the birthplace of Antonin Dvorak, in the suburbs of Prague, and played with members of the Czech Philharmonic.

He was also willing to pose for commemorative photographs when asked to do so by people who recognized him from his travels. A photo shows the emperor surrounded by tourists in Spain.

During a goodwill visit when he was crown prince, the emperor became a topic of conversation when he took a selfie with the Malaysian prime minister and another with a Danish citizen.

“The Emperor’s attitude of friendly interaction with key figures and ordinary people was established after his experience studying abroad, where he had many meetings,” said the author of the photos , who knows the Emperor’s travels 40 years ago, a time when he enjoyed his freedom.