The grizzled, goateed prince grabbed headlines when he publicly admitted his problems with alcoholism: “I’m Prince Tomohito, the alcoholic,” he said, mimicking the self-introducing mantra of Alcoholics Anonymous, during a lecture in northern Japan in 2007. He continued to talk openly about his condition, considered a taboo subject in Japan, discussing it candidly during multiple press interviews. He said that it began as a teenager, but intensified later as problems arose within the imperial family, according to media reports at the time. His dependency was a ongoing struggle. In 2009, he was hospitalized for alcoholism five times within a six month period.
More than his alcoholism, the prince caused a stir for his fervent stance against allowing a female monarchy. [...] “The question is whether it is the right thing to change our unique tradition and history so easily,” Akihito’s cousin, Prince Tomohito, wrote in the private essay distributed to palace officials in the fall of 2005, according to local media reports at the time. “Using concubines, like we used to, is one option. I’m all for it, but this might be a little difficult considering the social climate in and outside the country.” He said concubines would increase the chances of producing a male heir—and was a successful method in the past. He also suggested bringing back former branches of the royal family that were abolished after World War II.
During the prince’s life, he was on the organizing committee for the Sapporo Winter Olympics from 1970-1972. He also served as the honorary head of several social welfare organizations as well as of the Princess Takamatsu Cancer Research Fund.
