Kenichi Momoyama
Encyclopedia
Colonel
Yi Geon, known by his Japanese names Ri Ken and was a cavalry officer in the Imperial Japanese Army
during the Second World War. The first son of Prince Ui of Korea
by Lady Jeong, he was a grandson of Emperor Gwangmu. His Korean name
was Yi Geon ( I Geon), and his birth name was Yonggil ( Yonggil).
He was brought to Japan
in 1918, and entered Gakushūin Primary School
.
In 1930, he was commissioned in the Imperial Japanese Army as a second lieutenant of cavalry. He was promoted to Lieutenant in 1932 and to Captain in 1936. He served as the instructor of horsemanship at the Imperial Military Academy. He received further promotions to Major in 1940, and to Lieutenant-Colonel in 1943. With the end of the Second World War in 1945, he concluded his military career with the rank of Colonel.
He married , a maternal cousin of Crown Princess Bangja
, on October 5, 1931, in Tokyo
.
After World War II
, he was not allowed to go back to Korea. After he lost royal status by order of the SCAP
in October 1947, he naturalized as a Japan
ese citizen in 1950. Then he changed his name to Kenichi Momoyama. When he met his future second wife in 1951, he divorced his first wife. In 1991 he died, Prince Mikasa
attended his funeral.
Now his son Momoyama Kouya is working at Kaisei Academy
's high school as assistant principal in Tokyo.
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
Yi Geon, known by his Japanese names Ri Ken and was a cavalry officer in the Imperial Japanese Army
Imperial Japanese Army
-Foundation:During the Meiji Restoration, the military forces loyal to the Emperor were samurai drawn primarily from the loyalist feudal domains of Satsuma and Chōshū...
during the Second World War. The first son of Prince Ui of Korea
Korean Empire
The Greater Korean Empire was an empire of Korea that succeeded the Joseon Dynasty.In October 1897, Emperor Gojong proclaimed the new entity at Gyeongungung Palace and oversaw the partially successful modernization of the military, economy, land system, education system, and various industries...
by Lady Jeong, he was a grandson of Emperor Gwangmu. His Korean name
Korean name
A Korean name consists of a family name followed by a given name, as used by the Korean people in both North Korea and South Korea. In the Korean language, 'ireum' or 'seong-myeong' usually refers to the family name and given name together...
was Yi Geon ( I Geon), and his birth name was Yonggil ( Yonggil).
He was brought to 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...
in 1918, and entered Gakushūin Primary School
Gakushuin
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...
.
In 1930, he was commissioned in the Imperial Japanese Army as a second lieutenant of cavalry. He was promoted to Lieutenant in 1932 and to Captain in 1936. He served as the instructor of horsemanship at the Imperial Military Academy. He received further promotions to Major in 1940, and to Lieutenant-Colonel in 1943. With the end of the Second World War in 1945, he concluded his military career with the rank of Colonel.
He married , a maternal cousin of Crown Princess Bangja
Bangja, Crown Princess Euimin of Korea
Yi Bangja, Crown Princess Uimin of Korea was the consort of Crown Prince Euimin of Korea...
, on October 5, 1931, 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...
.
After World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, he was not allowed to go back to Korea. After he lost royal status by order of the SCAP
Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers
Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers was the title held by General Douglas MacArthur during the Occupation of Japan following World War II...
in October 1947, he naturalized as a Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese citizen in 1950. Then he changed his name to Kenichi Momoyama. When he met his future second wife in 1951, he divorced his first wife. In 1991 he died, Prince Mikasa
Prince Mikasa
is a member of the Imperial House of Japan. He is the fourth and youngest son of Emperor Taishō and Empress Teimei. His eldest brother was Emperor Shōwa , and is the only surviving paternal uncle of Emperor Akihito. With the death of his sister-in-law, Princess Takamatsu , on 17 December 2004, he...
attended his funeral.
Now his son Momoyama Kouya is working at Kaisei Academy
Kaisei Academy
-History:The school, which has produced many notable alumni, was founded in 1871. At first, it was established as a Kyōryū Gakkō of the prepschool to Senior school such as First High School（After the WWⅡ,this school was integrated into The University of Tokyo.）. Its motto is "The pen is mightier...
's high school as assistant principal in Tokyo.