Nobuhiko Higashikuni

Nobuhiko Higashikuni
Born Prince Nobuhiko Higashikuni
(1945-03-10) 10 March 1945
Tokyo, Japan
Spouse(s) Yoshiko Shimada
Issue
Yukihiko Higashikuni
Father Prince Morihiro Higashikuni
Mother Shigeko, Princess Teru

Nobuhiko Higashikuni (東久邇 信彦, Higashikuni Nobuhiko, born 10 March 1945) is a Japanese aristocrat and former Imperial prince. He is the eldest son of Shigeko, Princess Teru, the eldest child of Emperor Hirohito. He is thus the nephew of the present emperor, Akihito. His father was Morihiro Higashikuni, a grandson of Emperor Meiji.[1]

Biography

He was born in a shelter home amid the air raid on Tokyo as the eldest son of Prince Morihiro Higashikuni and Shigeko, Princess Teru, the eldest daughter of Hirohito, then the reigning Emperor of Japan.

After departing from the Imperial Palace, he studied at the Keio University Law School and worked at Mitsui Bank. He was appointed as a member of the Thai Association of Japan, and subsequently the executive director, managing director, Kakari member, etc. In June 2008, he assumed the honorary presidency of the All Japan Baseball Conference. In July 2009, he assumed the role of honorary adviser of the Japan-US Friendship Bridge Executive Committee. Other positions held by Higashikuni are: Honorary Chairman of the Society "Togo Association" and Honorary President of the Association to Protect Japanese Tradition.[2]

Higashikuni married Yoshiko Shimada in June 1972. The Shimada family is a commoner family who runs real estate management business (apartment/parking lot management) in Yokohama, but Emperor Hirohito liked Shimada's homely appearance and blessed Nobuhiko's marriage. In the following year a boy was born to the couple.[3]

Ancestry

Since his parents and grandparents were all members of the Imperial House of Japan and very closely related to the senior members of the family, the existence of Nobuhiko and his son Yukihiko has been noted when discussing the problem of succession to the throne due to the scarcity of male royalty, especially before 2006.

References

  1. 現行皇室典範以降、王(天皇の三世以下の嫡男系嫡出の子孫)は一人も出生していない。
  2. 日本の伝統を守る会
  3. 1972年6月13日 朝日新聞「陛下の初孫ゴールイン 東久邇信彦氏と吉子さん」
Nobuhiko Higashikuni
Born: 10 March 1945
Titles of nobility
Preceded by
Morihiro Higashikuni
 TITULAR 
Heir apparent to the Headship of the House of Higashikuni
(Hereditary Prince Higashikuni)

1 February 1969 – 20 January 1990
Succeeded by
Yukihiko Higashikuni
Preceded by
Prince Naruhiko Higashikuni
 TITULAR 
Head of the House of Higashikuni
20 January 1990 – present
Incumbent
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