How would one refer to a prince?

[Dokkaido]

I believe "denka" is the word most commonly used to refer to a prince and I assume an Emperor or Empress would refer to him by his first name, but how would, say, a member of the royal court (say the Prince's tutor or the commander of the royal guard) refer to him?

 

[Toritoribe]

"Denka" would be most common.

I assume an Emperor or Empress would refer to him by his first name

If you are talking about the Japanese Imperial family, Emperor or Empress refer to their children by the name of their houses, e.g., Akishino no Miya "The Prince Akishino", not their given names, e.g., "Fumihito".

 

[Dokkaido]

"Denka" would be most common.


If you are talking about the Japanese Imperial family, Emperor or Empress refer to their children by the name of their houses, e.g., Akishino no Miya "The Prince Akishino", not their given names, e.g., "Fumihito".

What about in the case of a member of the royal court, like a tutor or commander of the royal guards? I've heard variations: "denka-sama" (your highness), "ouji-sama" (prince), and "koku -osama" (country prince). Are they all more or less correct?

 

[Toritoribe]

"Denka" would be most common.

This is my answer.

Are you talking about the Japanese Imperial family specifically or a royal house in general?
("Denka-sama" is wrong, btw. Denka is an honorific title by itself so you don't need to add another honorific title "sama". Also, "kokuô-sama" refers to "king", not "prince".)

 

[Dokkaido]

Let's say a fictional Japanese royal house.

 

[Toritoribe]

... How do I answer for a fictional one?

 

[Dokkaido]

Let's say if it was the Japanese Imperial family.

 

[Toritoribe]

I already gave you my answer. If YOUR Imperial families have their house names "~Miya" (e.g. Hitachi no Miya, Takamado no Miya) as same as the real one, "Miya-sama" would be also commonly used.

 

[Dokkaido]

I already gave you my answer. If YOUR Imperial families has family names "~Miya" (e.g. Hitachi no Miya, Takamado no Miya) as same as the real one, "Miya-sama" would be also commonly used.

Great. Thanks!