They find two knives on the school bench of the Japanese prince Hisahito

TOKYO (AFP) .- Two kitchen knives were found on the school bench of Prince Hisahito, aged 12 and grandson of the Emperor of

Japan

Akihito, after security cameras have captured the presence of a suspicious man in his school, reported Saturday the local press.

The authorities strengthened the security apparatus around the imperial family before the abdication of Emperor Akihito,
after a reign of 30 years.

School staff found the knives Friday at the school bank that the prince uses daily, reported NHK public broadcasting agency and other media, citing researchers who had requested anonymity.

Prince Hisahito began studying at this center in April and was not in clbad at the time the knives were placed. According to the police, there were no injuries, material damage or threats related to these events.

Security cameras captured a man wearing a helmet that was entering the perimeter of the school at noon, according to the press. The police are looking for an average-aged man dressed in construction worker clothing. A spokeswoman for the police refused to comment on the information, which was also not confirmed by the school.

The imperial family has received threats on rare occasions. In 1975, Akihito was almost hit by a Molotov badtail in Okinawa, a battlefield of the Second World War and very hostile to the imperial family.

Akihito will become the first emperor to abdicate in 200 years. He will be replaced the next day by his eldest son, Crown Prince Naruhito, 59, with whom the country will enter a new era, that of Reiwa ("Bella Armonia").

Hisahito is the son of Prince Akishino, second son of the emperors and one of four possible male heirs to the Chrysanthemum throne.

The Japanese imperial family may end up disappearing because it does not recognize the right of women to accede to the throne.