Higashikuni Morihiro
Encyclopedia
, formerly was a member of a branch line
of the Japanese imperial family and husband of the Emperor Hirohito's eldest daughter.
and simultaneously both a first cousin and a son-in-law of Emperor Hirohito. He was born in Tokyo
, and like most male members of the imperial family during the Empire of Japan
, was groomed to pursue a career in the military from an early age.
Peers’ School and the Central Military Preparatory School, Prince Higashikuni served for a session in the House of Peers
. He graduated from the 49th class of Imperial Japanese Army Academy in 1938, and was commissioned as a second lieutenant
in the field artillery
. He was soon promoted to first lieutenant in the IJA First Artillery Regiment, and was stationed in Manchukuo
.
During the Nomonhan Incident in summer 1939, he commanded the First Battery, 1st Heavy Field Artillery Regiment of the Kwantung Army. He withdrew in face of the Soviet counter-offensive without orders during the heat of battle, and was transferred back to Japan on 2 August 1939. The incident was suppressed by Japanese military censors, but provided much propaganda
for the Soviet Army
. Despite this apparent blot on his service record, he was promoted to captain of the artillery in 1941. He attended the Army War College
from 1942–1944, and on graduation was placed on the reserve list.
On 10 October 1943, Prince Higashikuni married eighteen-year-old Princess Shigeko Teru
( 9 December 1925 – 23 July 1961), the eldest daughter of Emperor Shōwa and Empress Kōjun
, who was widely known by her childhood appellation Teru-no-miya. The bride and groom were related several times over through their common descent from Emperor Meiji and Prince Kuni Asahiko
(the father of Prince Naruhiko Higashikuni and the grandfather of Empress Kōjun).
The couple had five children, the last three of whom were born after the Higashikuni family was removed from the Imperial Household register:
His first wife, former Princess Shigeko, died of cancer
in July 1961. In 1964, Morihiro Higashikuni married Miss Yoshiko Terao. The second marriage produced two children:
at St. Luke's Medical Center in Tokyo in 1969.
Oke
The , were branches of the Japanese Imperial Family created from branches of the Fushimi-no-miya house. All but one of the ōke were formed by the descendants of Prince Fushimi Kuniye. The ōke were stripped of their membership in the Imperial Family by the American Occupation Authorities in...
of the Japanese imperial family and husband of the Emperor Hirohito's eldest daughter.
Early life
The eldest son and heir of Prince Naruhiko Higashikuni, Prince Morihiro had the distinction of being a grandson of Emperor MeijiEmperor Meiji
The or was the 122nd emperor of Japan according to the traditional order of succession, reigning from 3 February 1867 until his death...
and simultaneously both a first cousin and a son-in-law of Emperor Hirohito. He was born in Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, and like most male members of the imperial family during the Empire of Japan
Empire of Japan
The Empire of Japan is the name of the state of Japan that existed from the Meiji Restoration on 3 January 1868 to the enactment of the post-World War II Constitution of...
, was groomed to pursue a career in the military from an early age.
Military career
After graduation from the GakushuinGakushuin
The or Peers School is an educational institution founded in Tokyo in 1877, during the Meiji period, for the education of the children of the Japanese aristocracy, though it eventually also opened its doors to the offspring of extremely wealthy commoners...
Peers’ School and the Central Military Preparatory School, Prince Higashikuni served for a session in the House of Peers
House of Peers (Japan)
The ' was the upper house of the Imperial Diet as mandated under the Constitution of the Empire of Japan ....
. He graduated from the 49th class of Imperial Japanese Army Academy in 1938, and was commissioned as a second lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
in the field artillery
Field artillery
Field artillery is a category of mobile artillery used to support armies in the field. These weapons are specialized for mobility, tactical proficiency, long range, short range and extremely long range target engagement....
. He was soon promoted to first lieutenant in the IJA First Artillery Regiment, and was stationed in Manchukuo
Manchukuo
Manchukuo or Manshū-koku was a puppet state in Manchuria and eastern Inner Mongolia, governed under a form of constitutional monarchy. The region was the historical homeland of the Manchus, who founded the Qing Empire in China...
.
During the Nomonhan Incident in summer 1939, he commanded the First Battery, 1st Heavy Field Artillery Regiment of the Kwantung Army. He withdrew in face of the Soviet counter-offensive without orders during the heat of battle, and was transferred back to Japan on 2 August 1939. The incident was suppressed by Japanese military censors, but provided much propaganda
Propaganda
Propaganda is a form of communication that is aimed at influencing the attitude of a community toward some cause or position so as to benefit oneself or one's group....
for the Soviet Army
Soviet Army
The Soviet Army is the name given to the main part of the Armed Forces of the Soviet Union between 1946 and 1992. Previously, it had been known as the Red Army. Informally, Армия referred to all the MOD armed forces, except, in some cases, the Soviet Navy.This article covers the Soviet Ground...
. Despite this apparent blot on his service record, he was promoted to captain of the artillery in 1941. He attended the Army War College
Army War College (Japan)
The ; Short form: of the Empire of Japan was founded in 1882 in Minato, Tokyo to modernize and Westernize the Imperial Japanese Army. Much of the empire's elite including prime ministers during the period of Japanese militarism were graduates of the college....
from 1942–1944, and on graduation was placed on the reserve list.
Marriage and family
Shigeko Higashikuni
was the wife of Prince Higashikuni Morihiro and eldest daughter of Emperor Shōwa and Empress Kōjun. As such, she was the elder sister to the present Emperor of Japan, Emperor Akihito.-Biography:...
( 9 December 1925 – 23 July 1961), the eldest daughter of Emperor Shōwa and Empress Kōjun
Empress Kojun
' was empress consort of Emperor Hirohito of Japan. Born , she was the mother of the present Emperor .Her posthumous name is Kōjun, which means "fragrant purity"...
, who was widely known by her childhood appellation Teru-no-miya. The bride and groom were related several times over through their common descent from Emperor Meiji and Prince Kuni Asahiko
Prince Kuni Asahiko
align=right|, was a member of a collateral line of the Japanese imperial family who played a key role in the Meiji Restoration. Prince Asahiko was an adopted son of Emperor Ninkō and later a close advisor to Emperor Kōmei and Emperor Meiji...
(the father of Prince Naruhiko Higashikuni and the grandfather of Empress Kōjun).
The couple had five children, the last three of whom were born after the Higashikuni family was removed from the Imperial Household register:
- ; married 1973 Miss Yoshiko Shimada, with one son, Yukihiko Higashikuni (b.1974)
- ; married Mr. Kazutoshi Omura.
- : adopted by the Mibu family as "Motohiro Mibu"
- ; married to Ms. Kazuko Sato, with two sons, Teruhiko and Mutsuhiko
His first wife, former Princess Shigeko, died of cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
in July 1961. In 1964, Morihiro Higashikuni married Miss Yoshiko Terao. The second marriage produced two children:
- Atsuhiko Higashikuni
- Morihiko Higashikuni
Later life
In October 1947, the Higashikuni and the other branches of the Japanese Imperial Family were divested of their titles and privileges during the American occupation of Japan and became commoners. As a commoner, he attempted several unsuccessful business ventures before eventually becoming the chief of the research division of the Hokkaido Mining and Steamship Company. He died of lung cancerLung cancer
Lung cancer is a disease characterized by uncontrolled cell growth in tissues of the lung. If left untreated, this growth can spread beyond the lung in a process called metastasis into nearby tissue and, eventually, into other parts of the body. Most cancers that start in lung, known as primary...
at St. Luke's Medical Center in Tokyo in 1969.