Prince Eugene’s University Plans Dormitory Solution for Commuting Concerns

“Although it was expected, there are undoubtedly many people who cannot accept the news of Prince Hisahito’s admission to the University of Tsukuba,” said a royal family journalist.

This was stated by a royal journalist.

It was officially announced that starting in April next year, Prince Hisahito, the eldest son of the Akishino family, will be enrolling in the Department of Biology in the Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences at the University of Tsukuba in Ibaraki Prefecture.

A recommendation from the school principal requires a grade point average between 5.0 and 4.3.

“It is said that Tsukuba University offers the best environment to study natural history, which has long been a field of interest for Prince Hisahito. The reason for his interest was a visit to Tsukuba University in June last year as part of a school event. Prince Hisahito applied to the university through the school recommendation system, which is based on a recommendation from his school. In addition to the recommendation, he was accepted based on the results of an essay and interview.”

According to Tsukuba University’s application guidelines, to receive a recommendation from the school principal, a student must maintain an A-rank in their academic performance evaluation (GPA between 5.0 and 4.3) and have participated in exploratory activities on international topics or international exchange programs.

“Since his childhood, Prince Hisahito has been researching dragonflies, and in his second year of high school, he co-authored a paper with researchers from the National Museum of Nature and Science. Therefore, if his school grades were A-rank, it is believed that he met the application requirements,” said a reporter specializing in the imperial family.

However, many people still express doubts about his decision to attend Tsukuba University.

There are four large dormitories on a vast piece of land, with separate accommodations for males and females.

“Why wasn’t Gakushuin University an option? I believe pursuing one’s research as a lifelong endeavor is important, even in light of royal traditions. However, considering how the public perceives this and the security arrangements at the school, Gakushuin University would have been the best choice. If His Imperial Highness Prince Hisahito genuinely wanted to delve into natural history, he could have attended Gakushuin while collaborating with external experts, as he did when publishing his paper. Many citizens might question why Prince Hisahito, the future Emperor, did not choose to enroll in Gakushuin, a school established for members of the Imperial Family,” said a royal journalist.

Furthermore, the issue of commuting over a long distance has sparked debates, as the vast Tsukuba University campus, equivalent to 55 Tokyo Domes in size, and its location in Ibaraki Prefecture present challenges, according to a former Imperial Household Agency official.

“At present, the Imperial Household Agency has announced that Prince Hisahito will commute from Akasaka, where the Akishino residence is located, to Tsukuba University. However, it takes over two hours for a round trip by car, requiring not only Imperial Household Agency staff but also increased security in neighboring prefectures along the route. Additionally, with Tsukuba University’s sprawling campus and numerous entrances, it will be quite challenging to ensure his security. This significant burden reflects how strongly he must have wished to attend Tsukuba University,” the former official remarked.

Voices are emerging from various quarters, saying, “Commuting from Akasaka to Tsukuba University for four years is tough.” However, there seems to be a way to address this concern.

“Most students at Tsukuba University live in dormitories. There are four large dormitories on the vast campus, with separate accommodations for males and females. The university itself feels like a self-contained town. In a way, the closed environment fosters a high rate of relationships among students. Many experience youthful moments, such as female students visiting male dormitories. If Prince Hisahito were to live in the dormitories instead of commuting, he might even meet his destined partner there,” said a Tsukuba University alumnus.

Both Prince Akishino and Princess Kiko met during their university years, as did their eldest daughter Princess Mako and Kei Komuro. Perhaps Prince Hisahito’s partner—his future Empress—might also be at Tsukuba University.