Akishino Family's "2 Challenges in February": Hisahito's Higher Education and Kei Komuro's Bar Exam

 

The Akishino family is decisively unpopular with the Japanese people despite having the first and second highest ranking male heirs to the throne.

Every day, the Internet is filled with criticism of their every move.

In February, they are said to face two difficult problems, FRIDAY　DIGITAL reported on January 30. The two are Hisahito's higher education and Kei Komuro's bar exam.

 

First of all, there is the issue of the higher education of Hisahito, the second in line to the throne, who is 15 this year.

At present, the issue of his "privileged admission" to Tsukuba University's affiliated high school (Chikuzuke), one of the most advanced schools in Japan, through the "Affiliated School Admission System", is being discussed and is attracting public attention.

 

This system was introduced by the University of Tsukuba and Ochanomizu University in 2017, and is considered to be a time-limited measure for five years. There will be no academic test, and students will be able to transfer to schools affiliated with both universities if they pass an interview and document screening.

 

This "five-year time-limited measure" is very meaningful. When the system was introduced in 2017, it was around the time when Princess Hisahito was considering going to junior high school. In addition, five years from then would mean that this year would be the year when he would be entering high school, which led some people to say that this system is for his sake.

 

In the past, in 2009, Prince Hisahito was admitted to the kindergarten attached to Ochanomizu Women's University without having to go through the general entrance exam, which has a ratio of more than 10 times. This was due to the fact that his mother, Princess Kiko, was at the time involved in research and studies on health issues in a dedicated laboratory set up at Ochanomizu Women's University. Ochanomizu has a system in place for female teachers and researchers to have their children enrolled in the affiliated schools, and this system was applied to the enrollment of Prince Hisahito. Ochanomizu created this system only a year before His Highness was accepted, and he was the first one to apply.

 

 

Those who object to the past case and the current one are saying, "If it is a private school, why should it be done at a national school?

 

There are rumors that he may be recommended to enter the University of Tokyo after entering Chikuzuke, and the Imperial Household Agency is wary that any doubts about this would not be good for His Majesty the future Emperor.

 

 

On the other hand, the other difficult issue is Kei Komuro's NY State Bar Exam.

 

As is well known, Kei Komuro failed the exam last July, and this February is the second time for him.

According to the magazine,

 

In the case of the July exam, people take the exam when they have just graduated from law school, whereas this time there are many people who take the exam while holding down a job, and the pass rate is about 20 points different. Since Mr. Komuro is also working at a law firm, it is widely believed that the hurdle for him to pass the exam may be too high.

 

Moreover,

 

It is said that if he does not pass the bar exam, Kei may be dismissed from his job. If this is the case, the 'Komuro problem' could flare up again, and the Imperial Household Agency seems to be worrying about it.