Japanese prince
Prince Tomohito of Mikasa
(
?仁親王
,
Tomohito Shinn?
, 5 January 1946 ? 6 June 2012)
was a member of the
Imperial House of Japan
and the eldest son of
Takahito, Prince Mikasa
and
Yuriko, Princess Mikasa
. He was a first cousin of
Emperor Akihito
, and was formerly sixth in the
line of succession to the Japanese throne
and the
heir apparent
to the princely house of Mikasa-no-miya and the title "Prince Mikasa". Prince Tomohito was the first member of the Imperial House of Japan with a full beard since
Emperor Meiji
, thus earning him the popular nickname of the "Bearded Prince" (ヒゲの殿下
Hige no Denka
).
[1]
He died of cancer on 6 June 2012, aged 66.
Early life and education
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Prince Tomohito was born on 5 January 1946 at Prince Mikasa's family home. He graduated from the Department of Political Studies in the Faculty of Law of
Gakushuin University
in 1968. From 1968 ? 1970, he studied at
Magdalen College
, University of Oxford, in the United Kingdom.
Marriage and family
[
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]
The Prince became engaged to Miss
Nobuko As?
on 21 May 1980. She is the third daughter of the late Takakichi As?, chairman of
As? Cement Co.
, and his wife, Kazuko, the daughter of former Prime Minister,
Shigeru Yoshida
. She is also the sister of former Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister
Tar? As?
. The couple married on 7 November 1980. Miss As? was given the title HIH Princess Tomohito of Mikasa. The Prince and Princess had two daughters:
The family lived in a compound within the Akasaka Estate complex, in
Moto-Akasaka
,
Minato, Tokyo
. In October 2009, his wife separated her residence from him and their children.
[2]
Public service
[
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For the
1972 Sapporo Winter Olympics
, Prince Tomohito served as a committee member on the organizing committee from 1970 until 1972. He was also on the committee for the
1975 Okinawa World Fair
.
Prince Tomohito was president and honorary president of various organizations that concerned themselves with
cancer research
(the Princess Takamatsu Cancer Research Fund), having himself suffered from the disease from 2003, youth education and promotion of international relations. He was also noted for his support of organizations which promoted the welfare of people with
physical or mental disabilities
through sporting activities, such as
skiing
,
bowling
, dancing and
rugby
. He traveled extensively abroad with the princess on charity, and support missions that concerned matters of illness and welfare. The Prince often gave lectures and contributed articles to national newspapers and magazines, and had also authored seven books.
In December 1992, the Prince and Princess visited the United States to support a newly established cancer ward in the
New York Medical College
, and in 1994, visited Hawaii to support the reconstruction of Kuakini Hospital. In February 1994, the Prince and Princess visited
Norway
to attend the
1994 Winter Olympics
in
Lillehammer, Norway
.
In April 1998, the Prince and Princess visited
Turkey
to attend the opening ceremony of the Turkey-Japan Foundation Cultural Centre. They had previously visited Turkey in 1990 as part of the celebrations for the 100th anniversary of
Japan-Turkey relations
. The Prince strongly supported the establishment of a Japanese Institute of Anatolian Archaeology at the Middle Eastern Culture Center in Japan, and returned to Turkey again in October 2002, June 2003 and October 2003 leading three groups of benefactors on tours of the heritage of Turkey.
In June 1998, Prince Tomohito visited Australia for fundraising activities for a medical science foundation to commemorate the Australian Nobel Prize winner Dr.
Howard Walter Florey
. In December of the same year, he visited
Thailand
to attend the
13th Asian Games
.
In April 2003, Prince Tomohito visited Norway accompanied by his daughter, Princess Akiko to attend the World Cross Country Ski Championships for the Visually Disabled.
He appeared on the radio as a DJ in his younger days.
[3]
Health problems and death
[
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The Prince was first diagnosed with
cancer
in 1991, but later went into remission. He was diagnosed with cancer of the
larynx
in 2003, and immediately began treatment for it. In September 2006, he fractured his jaw, which had been weakened by his
chemotherapy
treatments. In 2007, the Prince made a public announcement that he was suffering from alcoholism, and was undergoing treatments at the
Imperial Household Agency
hospital.
[1]
In March 2008, his cancer spread to his
pharynx
, and he underwent surgery.
[4]
Although attempts were made to save his voice, he subsequently suffered from
pneumonia
caused by his inability to properly swallow food, and was thereafter only able to speak with the aid of a
mechanical larynx
.
On 6 June 2012, the Prince died from multiple organ failure at the Sasaki Institute Kyoundo Hospital in
Tokyo
, aged 66.
[5]
He had been hospitalized for some time, as a result of his multiple cancer diagnoses. Around 660 people attended his funeral, which was held at the Toshimagaoka Imperial Cemetery.
[6]
In June 2013, the Imperial Household Agency stated that they had integrated his family into the household led by his father.
[2]
Views on the imperial succession
[
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]
Amid the
Japanese imperial succession debate
, then-
Prime Minister
Junichir? Koizumi
strongly supported the revision of the
Imperial Household Law
to allow a woman to ascend to the Imperial Throne, pledging to present a bill to the 2006 session of the parliament.
[7]
Some conservative lawmakers opposed Koizumi and said the debate was premature. Prince Tomohito also opposed the proposal, saying that the official male members of the Japanese imperial family might take up concubines in order to produce male members because it was previously possible for a male illegitimate child to assume the imperial throne. Later he said that this remark was just a joke.
[8]
[9]
Titles and styles
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- 5 January 1946 ? 6 June 2012:
His Imperial Highness
Prince Tomohito of Mikasa
Honours
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National honours
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Foreign honours
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Honorary degree
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Honorary positions
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- President of the Social Welfare Organization Yuai Jyuji Kai
- President of the Arinomama-sha
- President of the Social Welfare Organization Saiseikai Imperial Gift Foundation Inc.
- President of the New Technology Development Foundation
- President of the Princess Takamatsu Cancer Research Fund
- President of the Nippon Billiard Association
- President of the Professional Ski Instructors Association of Japan
- President of the Collegiate Skating And Ice Hockey Federation
- President of the Japan-Turkey Society
- President of the Middle Eastern Culture Center in Japan
- Honorary President of the Japan Rugby Football Union
- Honorary President of the Japan-British Society
- Honorary President of the Norway-Japan Society
Ancestry
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Ancestors of Prince Tomohito of Mikasa
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Patrilineal descent
[
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]
Patrilineal descent
[11]
|
- Imperial House of Japan
- Descent prior to Keitai is unclear to modern historians, but traditionally traced back patrilineally to
Emperor Jimmu
- Emperor Keitai
, ca. 450?534
- Emperor Kinmei
, 509?571
- Emperor Bidatsu
, 538?585
- Prince Oshisaka, ca. 556????
- Emperor Jomei
, 593?641
- Emperor Tenji
, 626?671
- Prince Shiki, ????716
- Emperor K?nin
, 709?786
- Emperor Kanmu
, 737?806
- Emperor Saga
, 786?842
- Emperor Ninmy?
, 810?850
- Emperor K?k?
, 830?867
- Emperor Uda
, 867?931
- Emperor Daigo
, 885?930
- Emperor Murakami
, 926?967
- Emperor En'y?
, 959?991
- Emperor Ichij?
, 980?1011
- Emperor Go-Suzaku
, 1009?1045
- Emperor Go-Sanj?
, 1034?1073
- Emperor Shirakawa
, 1053?1129
- Emperor Horikawa
, 1079?1107
- Emperor Toba
, 1103?1156
- Emperor Go-Shirakawa
, 1127?1192
- Emperor Takakura
, 1161?1181
- Emperor Go-Toba
, 1180?1239
- Emperor Tsuchimikado
, 1196?1231
- Emperor Go-Saga
, 1220?1272
- Emperor Go-Fukakusa
, 1243?1304
- Emperor Fushimi
, 1265?1317
- Emperor Go-Fushimi
, 1288?1336
- Emperor K?gon
, 1313?1364
- Emperor Suk?
, 1334?1398
- Prince Yoshihito Fushimi
, 1351?1416
- Prince Sadafusa Fushimi
, 1372?1456
- Emperor Go-Hanazono
, 1419?1471
- Emperor Go-Tsuchimikado
, 1442?1500
- Emperor Go-Kashiwabara
, 1464?1526
- Emperor Go-Nara
, 1495?1557
- Emperor ?gimachi
, 1517?1593
- Prince Masahito
, 1552?1586
- Emperor Go-Y?zei
, 1572?1617
- Emperor Go-Mizunoo
, 1596?1680
- Emperor Reigen
, 1654?1732
- Emperor Higashiyama
, 1675?1710
- Prince Naohito Kanin
, 1704?1753
- Prince Sukehito Kanin
, 1733?1794
- Emperor K?kaku
, 1771?1840
- Emperor Nink?
, 1800?1846
- Emperor K?mei
, 1831?1867
- Emperor Meiji
, 1852?1912
- Emperor Taish?
, 1879?1926
- Takahito, Prince Mikasa
- Prince Tomohito of Mikasa
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Notes
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External links
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Japanese princes
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1st generation
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2nd generation
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3rd generation
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4th generation
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5th generation
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International
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Academics
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