Naruhito byl formálně jmenován korunním princem v roce 1991. Navštěvoval školy Gakušúin v Tokiu a později studoval historii na univerzitě Gakušúin a angličtinu na Merton College v Oxfordu.
In 2007, Naruse had his best season as a professional in his short career. All season long he was competing with Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters superstar Yu Darvish for the Eiji Sawamura Award, the award for best pitcher in all of Japan.