Prince Hisahito, third in line to the throne in the Imperial family, turned 8 on Saturday.
The son of Prince Akishino and his wife, Kiko, the prince is in his second year at a Tokyo elementary school affiliated with Ochanomizu University and seems to be doing well, looking after first-year pupils and playing with his many friends, the Imperial Household Agency said.
In August, the prince and his family attended a gathering of survivors of the Tsushima Maru sinking and learned about the importance of peace. Hundreds of children died when the passenger ship was sunk off Kagoshima Prefecture during World War II.
Prince Hisahito is third in line to the throne after his uncle Crown Prince Naruhito and his father Prince Akishino.