Until the birth of a son to Prince Akishino on September 6 , 2006 , there was a potential succession problem . No male child had been born into the imperial family since Prince Akishino in 1965 . Until the birth of Prince Hisahito , son of Prince Akishino , on September 6 , 2006 , there was a potential succession problem , since Prince Akishino was the only male child to be born into the imperial family since 1965 .