TOKYO (AP) — Japan’s Prince Hisahito was formally recognized as an adult on Saturday in an elaborate ceremony steeped in imperial tradition. He could be the royal family's last heir.
The only son of Crown Prince Akishino, Hisahito, 19, is second in line to the Chrysanthemum Throne.
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FILE - Japan's Prince Hisahito, center, accompanied by his parents Prince Akishino, left, and Princess Kiko, arrives at Ochanomizu University Elementary School for his entrance ceremony in Tokyo, Sunday, April 7, 2013. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara, Pool, File)
FILE - Japan's Prince Hisahito, wearing a traditional ceremonial attire, is accompanied by his parents, Prince Akishino, Princess Kiko, his sisters Princess Mako, left, and Princess Kako, right, after attending "Chakko-no-gi" ceremony to celebrate his growth and the passage from infancy to childhood, at the Akasaka imperial estate in Tokyo, Nov. 3, 2011. (AP Photo/Issei Kato, Pool, File)
Japanese Prince Hisahito is seen in ceremonial attire during his coming-of-age rites in the Imperial Palace on his 19th birthday in Tokyo on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025. (Kyodo News via AP)
Japanese Prince Hisahito, son of Crown Prince Akishino, wearing ancient ceremonial costume, leaves for a ceremony by a carriage at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025 as he celebrated his 19th birthday and attended the coming-of-age ceremony at the palace. (Yoshikazu Tsuno/Pool Photo via AP)
Japanese Prince Hisahito, son of Crown Prince Akishino, wearing ancient ceremonial costume, leaves for a ceremony by a carriage at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025 as he celebrated his 19th birthday and attended the coming-of-age ceremony at the palace. (Yoshikazu Tsuno/Pool Photo via AP)
FILE- Japan's Prince Hisahito gestures as he poses for a photo before his entrance ceremony of Senior High School at Otsuka, the University of Tsukuba, Saturday, April 9, 2022, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko, Pool)
FILE- Japan's Prince Hisahito, center, accompanied by his parents Prince Akishino and Princess Kiko pose for media after his graduation ceremony of a primary school affiliated with Ochanomizu University in Tokyo Friday, March 15, 2019. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko, Pool)
FILE - Japan's Prince Hisahito, right, participates in a sports event at a primary school affiliated with Ochanomizu University in Tokyo, May 19, 2018. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko, Pool, File)
FILE - Japan's Prince Hisahito, center, accompanied by his parents Prince Akishino, left, and Princess Kiko, arrives at Ochanomizu University Elementary School for his entrance ceremony in Tokyo, Sunday, April 7, 2013. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara, Pool, File)
FILE - Japan's Prince Hisahito, wearing a traditional ceremonial attire, is accompanied by his parents, Prince Akishino, Princess Kiko, his sisters Princess Mako, left, and Princess Kako, right, after attending "Chakko-no-gi" ceremony to celebrate his growth and the passage from infancy to childhood, at the Akasaka imperial estate in Tokyo, Nov. 3, 2011. (AP Photo/Issei Kato, Pool, File)
FILE - Japan's Prince Hisahito, 3, smiles as he holds a rabbit during his visit to Ueno Zoo in Tokyo, Japan, with his parents Prince Akishino and Princess Kiko Monday, Oct. 26, 2009. (AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama, File)
FILE - Japan's Prince Akishino, left, and his wife Princess Kiko, carrying their son Prince Hisahito, are welcomed by the staff of an imperial ranch in Takanezawa, north of Tokyo, March 28, 2008. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara, File)
FILE - Japan's newborn Prince Hisahito sleeps in the arms of his mother Crown Princess Kiko as he leaves a Tokyo hospital Sept. 15, 2006. (AP Photo/Itsuo Inouye, Pool, File)
With Japan’s male-only succession rules and shrinking royal family, the monarchy faces a looming crisis that mirrors Japan’s rapidly aging and shrinking population. The university freshman, passionate about dragonflies and urban ecology, shoulders the burden of a 1,500-year dynasty’s future.
Proposals to allow female emperors or adopt heirs from former royal branches have stalled, leaving Hisahito at the center of an unresolved national debate.
This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.
Japanese Prince Hisahito is seen in ceremonial attire during his coming-of-age rites in the Imperial Palace on his 19th birthday in Tokyo on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025. (Kyodo News via AP)
Japanese Prince Hisahito, son of Crown Prince Akishino, wearing ancient ceremonial costume, leaves for a ceremony by a carriage at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025 as he celebrated his 19th birthday and attended the coming-of-age ceremony at the palace. (Yoshikazu Tsuno/Pool Photo via AP)
Japanese Prince Hisahito, son of Crown Prince Akishino, wearing ancient ceremonial costume, leaves for a ceremony by a carriage at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025 as he celebrated his 19th birthday and attended the coming-of-age ceremony at the palace. (Yoshikazu Tsuno/Pool Photo via AP)
FILE- Japan's Prince Hisahito gestures as he poses for a photo before his entrance ceremony of Senior High School at Otsuka, the University of Tsukuba, Saturday, April 9, 2022, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko, Pool)
FILE- Japan's Prince Hisahito, center, accompanied by his parents Prince Akishino and Princess Kiko pose for media after his graduation ceremony of a primary school affiliated with Ochanomizu University in Tokyo Friday, March 15, 2019. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko, Pool)
FILE - Japan's Prince Hisahito, right, participates in a sports event at a primary school affiliated with Ochanomizu University in Tokyo, May 19, 2018. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko, Pool, File)
FILE - Japan's Prince Hisahito, center, accompanied by his parents Prince Akishino, left, and Princess Kiko, arrives at Ochanomizu University Elementary School for his entrance ceremony in Tokyo, Sunday, April 7, 2013. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara, Pool, File)
FILE - Japan's Prince Hisahito, wearing a traditional ceremonial attire, is accompanied by his parents, Prince Akishino, Princess Kiko, his sisters Princess Mako, left, and Princess Kako, right, after attending "Chakko-no-gi" ceremony to celebrate his growth and the passage from infancy to childhood, at the Akasaka imperial estate in Tokyo, Nov. 3, 2011. (AP Photo/Issei Kato, Pool, File)
FILE - Japan's Prince Hisahito, 3, smiles as he holds a rabbit during his visit to Ueno Zoo in Tokyo, Japan, with his parents Prince Akishino and Princess Kiko Monday, Oct. 26, 2009. (AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama, File)
FILE - Japan's Prince Akishino, left, and his wife Princess Kiko, carrying their son Prince Hisahito, are welcomed by the staff of an imperial ranch in Takanezawa, north of Tokyo, March 28, 2008. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara, File)
FILE - Japan's newborn Prince Hisahito sleeps in the arms of his mother Crown Princess Kiko as he leaves a Tokyo hospital Sept. 15, 2006. (AP Photo/Itsuo Inouye, Pool, File)
GUATEMALA CITY (AP) — The death toll from suspected gangsters’ attacks on Guatemalan police rose to nine Monday, as Guatemalans saw heavier security in the streets and curtailed rights after Congress approved President Bernardo Arévalo's emergency declaration.
The violence started Saturday when inmates seized control of three prisons in apparently coordinated riots, taking 43 guards hostage. The gangs were demanding privileges for their members and leaders, according to authorities. Shortly after police liberated one prison Sunday morning, suspected gang members attacked police across the capital.
On Monday, National Civil Police Director David Custodio Boteo said that a ninth police officer had died early Monday from his injuries, adding that “there are several wounded who are in critical condition ... Some also suffered amputations.”
Police honored the fallen officers in a ceremony Monday, where flag-draped coffins sat in the Interior Ministry.
“Today it pains me to give each one of the families this flag, symbol of the nation that will not forget the sacrifice and commitment of their police fallen in the fulfillment of their duty,” Arévalo said Monday.
Outside the Interior Ministry, José Antonio Revolorio, 72, father of officer José Efraín Revolorio Barrera, 25, said, “I hope that the criminals who did this to my son will one day pay for it, that the law will go after them. And that this doesn’t end here, because my son was an honest man, competent at his work.”
Meanwhile, the government gazette published Monday Arévalo’s declaration of a 30-day state of emergency, saying there were “coordinated actions by self-named maras or gangs against state security forces, including armed attacks against civilian authorities.”
Among the rights that the declaration limits are freedom of action and demonstrations. It also allows police to arrest people without a judicial order if they are suspected gang members. Security forces could also prohibit the movement of vehicles in certain places or subject them to searches.
The unicameral Congress approved the state of emergency with minor changes Monday night on a vote of 149 in favor to 1 against, with 10 absent or on approved leave of absence. However, it had gone into effect Sunday.
Traffic in the capital Monday appeared lighter than usual.
“This situation is a shame. It affects people psychologically: they don't want to go out,” said Óscar López, a 68-year-old radio technician who had a doctor's appointment. “I agree with the president imposing the state of emergency because it doesn't stop the violence, but it relaxes people.”
Ileana Melgar, 64, said she was afraid of missing her appointment to renew her identification Monday. “But I was afraid to go out, I called my friend to go with me. You don't know if they will also stop (public) transportation and we can't get back home.”
The U.S. Embassy in Guatemala had instructed U.S. government personnel to shelter in place Sunday. That was lifted later in the day, but they were “advised to maintain a high level of caution when traveling.”
On Monday, the embassy condemned the attacks on police. “These terrorists, as well as those who cooperate with them or are linked to them, have no place in our hemisphere. The security of the Guatemalan people and the stability of our hemisphere must prevail. We reaffirm our support for Guatemala’s security forces to curb the violence.”
In October, the Congress reformed laws to declare members of the Barrio 18 and Mara Salvatrucha gangs terrorists. The changes lengthened prison sentences for gang members who commit crimes.
The United States government also declared those gangs foreign terrorist organizations last year.
As a safety precaution, school was suspended nationwide Monday.
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AP journalist Emmanuel Andrés contributed to this report.
Evidence markers stand at the scene where police officers were killed in attacks reported after security forces retook control of a prison that houses gang leaders, in Villanueva, on the outskirts of Guatemala City, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)
Deployed soldiers exit a vehicle around Congress in Guatemala City, Monday, Jan. 19, 2026, after President Bernardo Arévalo declared a state of emergency. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)
Guatemalan President Bernardo Arevalo comforts the relative of one of the police officers killed while retaking control of three prisons, during the wake for the officers at the Interior Ministry in Guatemala City, Monday, Jan. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)
Security forces enter the Preventivo Zona 18 prison to free guards taken hostage and retake control of the facility in Guatemala City, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Emmanuel Andres)
The wake for police officers killed while retaking control of three prisons is held at the Interior Ministry in Guatemala City, Monday, Jan. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)
The wake for police officers killed while retaking control of three prisons is held at the Interior Ministry in Guatemala City, Monday, Jan. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)
The wake for police officers killed while retaking control of three prisons is held at the Interior Ministry in Guatemala City, Monday, Jan. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)
Inmates stand atop a guard tower at the Renovation maximum-security prison before security forces entered the facility to free guards taken hostage in Escuintla, Guatemala, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)
A medic checks on freed prison guards outside the Renovation maximum-security prison after security forces entered the facility to retake control in Escuintla, Guatemala, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)
Security forces enter the Renovation maximum-security prison to free guards taken hostage and retake control of the facility, which houses gang leaders, in Escuintla, Guatemala, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)
A soldier takes position in an armored vehicle outside the Preventivo Zona 18 prison during an operation to free guards taken hostage and retake control of the facility in Guatemala City, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Emmanuel Andres)
Forensic investigators place evidence markers at the scene where police officers were killed in attacks reported after security forces retook control of a prison that houses gang leaders, in Villanueva, outskirts of Guatemala City, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)
