In extension of his father's interest in marine biology, the Emperor is a published ichthyological researcher, and has specialized in studies within the taxonomy of the family Gobiidae.[33] He has written papers for scholarly journals such as Gene and the Japanese Journal of Ichthyology.[34] He has also written papers about the history of science during the Edo and Meiji eras, which were published in Science[35] and Nature.[36] In 2005, a newly described goby was named Exyrias akihito in his honour, and in 2007 a genus Akihito Spp. of gobies native to Pacific islands also received his name.