Prince Naruhiko Higashikuni
 | This article includes a list of generalreferences,butit lacks sufficient correspondinginline citations.(June 2020) |
 | You can helpexpand this article with text translated fromthe corresponding articlein Japanese.(March 2017)Click [show] for important translation instructions.
|
Prince Naruhiko Higashikuni | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Đông cửu nhĩ cung nhẫm ngạn vương | |||||
 Formal portrait,c. 1914-15 | |||||
| Prime Minister of Japan | |||||
| In office 17 August 1945 – 9 October 1945 | |||||
| Monarch | Hirohito | ||||
| Preceded by | Kantarō Suzuki | ||||
| Succeeded by | Kijūrō Shidehara | ||||
| Personal details | |||||
| Born | 3 December 1887 Kyoto City,Empire of Japan | ||||
| Died | 20 January 1990(aged 102) Tokyo Metropolis,Japan | ||||
| Political party | Independent | ||||
| Spouse | |||||
| Children | Morihiro Higashikuni Moromasa Higashikuni Akitsune Higashikuni Toshihiko Higashikuni | ||||
| Parents |
| ||||
| Alma mater | Imperial Japanese Army Academy Army War College | ||||
| Occupation | Imperial Prince General | ||||
| Awards | Order of the Chrysanthemum Order of the Rising Sunwith Paulownia Flowers,Order of the Golden Kite | ||||
| Signature |  | ||||
| Military service | |||||
| Allegiance |  Empire of Japan | ||||
| Branch/service |  Imperial Japanese Army | ||||
| Years of service | 1908–1945 | ||||
| Rank | General | ||||
| Commands | IJA 4th Division,Imperial Japanese Army Air Service,IJA 2nd Army,General Defense Command | ||||
| Battles/wars | Second Sino-Japanese War Pacific War | ||||
| Prince Higashikuni | |||||
| Tenure | 3 November 1906 – 14 October 1947 | ||||
| Successor | Title abolished | ||||
| Head of theHouse of Higashikuni | |||||
| Tenure | 3 November 1906 – 20 January 1990 | ||||
| Successor | Nobuhiko Higashikuni | ||||
| Japanese name | |||||
| Kanji | Đông cửu nhĩ cung nhẫm ngạn vương | ||||
| |||||
Naruhiko, Prince Higashikuni(Đông cửu nhĩ cung nhẫm ngạn vương,Higashikuni-no-miya Naruhiko Ō,3 December 1887 – 20 January 1990)was a Japanese imperial prince, a career officer in theImperial Japanese Armyand the 30thPrime Minister of Japanfrom 17 August 1945 to 9 October 1945, a period of 54 days. He is the shortest-serving prime minister, resigning after eight weeks. An uncle-in-law ofEmperor Hirohitotwice over,[1]Prince Higashikuni was the only member of theJapanese imperial familyto head a cabinet and was the last general officer of the Imperial Japanese military to become Prime Minister. He was the founder of theChiba Institute of Technology.He was one of the longest-lived members of any royal family.[2]
Early life[edit]
Prince Naruhiko was born on 3 December 1887 inKyoto,the ninth son ofPrince Kuni Asahiko(Kuni no miya Asahiko Shinnō) and the court lady Terao Utako. His father, Prince Asahiko, was a son ofPrince Fushimi Kuniie(Fushimi no miya Kuniie Shinnō), the twentieth head of theFushimi-no-miya,the oldest of thesesshu shinnōkeor cadet branches of the imperial dynasty from whom an emperor might be chosen in default of a direct heir. Prince Naruhiko was a half-brother ofPrince Kuni Kuniyoshi,the father of the futureEmpress Kōjun,the wife of Emperor Shōwa. His other half-brothers,Prince Asaka Yasuhiko,Prince Nashimoto Morimasa,andPrince Kaya Kuninori,all formed new branches of the imperial family (ōke) during theMeiji period.
Marriage and family[edit]
Emperor Meijigranted Prince Naruhiko the titleHigashikuni-no-miyaand permission to start anew branch of the imperial familyon 3 November 1906. Prince Naruhiko married the ninth daughter of Emperor Meiji,Toshiko, Princess Yasu(11 May 1896 – 5 March 1978), on 18 May 1915. The couple had four sons.
- PrinceHigashikuni Morihiro(Thịnh hậu vương,Morohiro ō,6 May 1916 – 1 February 1969);marriedShigeko, Princess Teru,the eldest daughter ofEmperor ShōwaandEmpress Kōjun.
- Prince Moromasa(Sư chính vương,Moromasa ō,3 November 1918 – 1 September 1923);died in theGreat Kantō earthquake.
- Prince Akitsune(Chương thường vương,Akitsune ō,13 May 1920 – 30 August 2006);renounced imperial title and createdMarquisAwata Akitsune, 1940
- Prince Toshihiko(Tuấn ngạn vương,Toshihiko ō,March 24, 1929 – April 15, 2015);renounced imperial title and createdCountTarama Toshihiko, 1943; relocated toLins, São Paulo,Brazil,1950.
Military career[edit]
Prince Higashikuni Naruhiko was a career officer in theImperial Japanese Army.In 1908, he graduated from theImperial Japanese Army Academyas a second lieutenant, was promoted to lieutenant in 1910 and to captain in 1913. In 1914, he graduated from theArmy War College.He was commissioned acaptainin the 29th Infantry Brigade, and promoted tomajorin theIJA 7th Divisionin 1915.
Prince Higashikuni then studiedmilitary tacticsat theÉcole Spéciale Militaire de Saint-CyrandÉcole PolytechniqueinParisFrance,from 1920 to 1926, during which time he was promoted to lieutenant-colonel in 1920 and to colonel in 1926. Always somewhat of a rebel, Prince Higashikuni's behavior in Paris scandalized the Imperial Court. He had a French mistress, enjoyed fast cars and high living. He left his wife and children in Japan, and the death of his second son did not prompt his return. In 1926, theImperial Household Ministrydispatched a chamberlain to Paris to collect him.
Upon his return to Japan, he was assigned to theImperial Japanese Army General StaffHeadquarters. Promoted to major-general in August 1930 and appointed commander of the 5th Infantry Brigade (1930–1934), he was promoted to lieutenant-general in August 1934 and given command of theIJA 4th Division(1934–1937). After the start of theSecond Sino-Japanese War,he headed theImperial Japanese Army Air Service(1937–1938), and theIJA 2nd Armystationed inChinafrom 1938–1939. He was promoted to general in August 1939.
According to a memo discovered by historianYoshiaki Yoshimi,Prince Higashikuni authorized the use ofpoison gasagainst the Chinese on 16 August 1938.[3] Prince Higashikuni encouraged and enabled human experiments, providing advice, money, men and equipment. He personally witnessed human experiments conducted by the military physicians during his tours inManchukuo.[4]
On 13 May 1939 the Imperial General Headquarters authorized the use of poison gas toJapanese Northern China Area Army( đại lục chỉ đệ tứ bách ngũ thập nhị hào ). Only riot control agents were used till then. Prince Higashikuni moved to the post at home dated 4 January 1939. Promoted to fullgeneral,The prince was awarded theOrder of the Golden Kite,1st Class in 1940.[citation needed]
Before Japan entered theSecond World War,on 15 October 1941, outgoingPrime MinisterFumimaro Konoeproposed Prince Higashikuni to Emperor Shōwa as his successor for prime minister.[5]Konoe believed that only a member of the Imperial Family with a distinguished military background could restrain the pro-war faction led by GeneralsHajime Sugiyama,Hideki Tōjō,andAkira Mutō.Prince Higashikuni was also the choice of both Chief of Staffs of the Army and the Navy.
However, both Emperor Shōwa and theLord Privy Seal,Kido Kōichi,believed that it would be inappropriate for a member of the Imperial Family to serve in that position, as he could be blamed for anything which went wrong in the war. Thus, two days later, the Emperor chose army minister GeneralHideki Tōjōas Prime Minister. In 1946, he explained this decision: "I actually thought Prince Higashikuni suitable as Chief of Staff of the Army; but I think the appointment of a member of the Imperial house to a political office must be considered very carefully. Above all, in time of peace this is fine, but when there is a fear that there may even be a war, then more importantly, considering the welfare of the imperial house, I wonder about the wisdom of a member of the Imperial family serving [as prime minister]."[6]
Six weeks later, Japanattacked Pearl Harbor.During the early stages of thePacific War,Prince Higashikuni served as commander of theGeneral Defense Commandfrom 1941 to 1944.
Prince Higashikuni remained steadfast in his opposition to the war with theAllied powers,and was part of the conspiracy (withPrince Yasuhiko Asaka,Prince Nobuhito Takamatsu,and former Prime Minister Konoe) which finally ousted Tōjō in July 1944 following thefall of Saipanto American forces. The American researchers withSCAPalso found out that he had planned towards the end of the war to depose Emperor Shōwa, placing the Crown PrinceAkihitoon the throne instead, governing the country with himself as regent.[7]
Prime Minister[edit]
After the course of the war turned against Japan, and the decision was made to accept thePotsdam Declaration,the Shōwa Emperor appointed Prince Higashikuni to the position of prime minister on 17 August 1945, replacing navy AdmiralKantarō Suzuki.The mission of theHigashikuni Cabinetwas twofold: first, to ensure the orderly cessation of hostilities anddemobilizationof the Japanese armed forces; and second, to reassure the Japanese people that the imperial institution remained secure. Prince Higashikuni resigned in October over a dispute with theAllied occupation forcesover the repeal of the 1925Peace Preservation Law.This law was largely intended to prevent the spread ofCommunismto Japan.
Life after resignation[edit]
On 27 February 1946, Prince Higashikuni gave an interview to theYomiuri-Hōchinewspaper in which he claimed that many members of the imperial family had approved Emperor Shōwa's abdication, withNobuhito, Prince Takamatsuserving as regent until Crown PrinceAkihitocame of age.[8]In the government, only Prime MinisterKijūrō Shideharaand the Imperial Household MinisterYoshitami Matsudairaopposed this. On 4 March 1946, Higashikuni gave a similar interview to theAssociated Press(reported inThe New York Times) indicating that he had proposed to the Emperor possible dates for abdication.[9]
In 1946, Prince Higashikuni asked the emperor for permission to renounce his membership in the Imperial Family and become a commoner. The emperor denied the request. However, along with other members of the Imperial branch families (shinnōkeandōke), Prince Higashikuni lost his title and most of his wealth as a result of the American occupation’s abolition of the princely houses on 17 October 1947.
As a private citizen, Higashikuni operated several unsuccessful retail enterprises (including a provisions store, second-hand goods store, and dressmaker's shop). He even created his own newZenBuddhism-based religious sect, theHigashikuni-kyo,which was subsequently banned by the American occupation authorities.
The former prince became the honorary chairman of theInternational Martial Arts Federation(IMAF) in 1957, and honorary president of several other organizations.
In 1958, Higashikuni published his wartime journals under the title,Ichi Kozoku no Senso Nikki(orThe War Diary of a Member of the Imperial Family). He published his autobiographical memoirs,Higashikuni Nikki,in 1968.
Death and legacy[edit]
Higashikuni died ofheart failurein Tokyo on 20 January 1990 at the age of 102 years, 48 days, having outlived his wife, two of his sons, his siblings, and his nephew, Emperor Shōwa. Higashikuni is today mainly remembered as first postwar prime minister of Japan. He is the shortest-serving prime minister, resigning after eight weeks (54 days) and one of the longest-lived prime ministers of all time, along withAntoine Pinay,Willem DreesandChristopher Hornsrud,and at his death was the last surviving full general of the Imperial Japanese Army. From 14 May 1988, when formerNetherlandsPrime MinisterWillem Dreesdied, until his own death, Higashikuni was the world's oldest living former head of government.
Footnotes[edit]
- ^"The Miyake".Retrieved23 April2016.
He was an uncle of Empress Nagako and an uncle-in-law of Emperor Shōwa twice over
- ^Coke, Hope (21 April 2021)."The top 10 longest-living royals in history".Tatler.Retrieved4 August2021.
- ^Wakabayashi, Bob Tadashi (1991). "Emperor Hirohito on Localized Aggression in ChinaArchived2011-07-21 at theWayback Machine".Sino-Japanese Studies4(1), p.7.
- ^Large, Stephen (1995).Emperor Hirohito and Showa Japan, A Political Biography.Routledge. pp. 67–68, 134, 117–119, 144–145.ISBN9781-138009110.
- ^Peter Wetzler,Hirohito and War,1998, p.41
- ^Wetzler, ibid., p.44, Terasaki Hidenari,Shōwa tennō dokuhakuroku,1991, p.118
- ^vgl.Records of the Army Staff: The Investigative Records Repository (IRR)released under theJapanese Imperial Government Disclosure Act of 2000
- ^Bix, Herbert P. (1995)."Inventing the" Symbol Monarchy "in Japan, 1945-52".Journal of Japanese Studies.21(2): 338.doi:10.2307/133011.JSTOR133011– via JSTOR.
- ^"PRINCE SUGGESTED THAT HIROHITO QUIT; Higashi-Kuni Says He Gave Emperor Three Suitable Times for Abdication Considered Abdication; Admiral Ueda Released".New York Times.March 4, 1946. p. 6.
Gallery[edit]
-
HIH Prince Naruhiko -
HIH Prince Naruhiko in France -
HIH Princess Toshiko,Emperor Meiji's daughter (wife) -
HIH Prince Morihiro (son and heir) -
HIH Princess Shigeko,Emperor Shōwa's daughter (daughter-in-law)
References[edit]
- Dower, John W.Embracing Defeat: Japan in the Wake of World War II.W. W. Norton & Company (2000).ISBN0-393-32027-8
- Frank, Richard B.Downfall: The End of the Imperial Japanese Empire.Penguin (Non-Classics); Reissue edition (2001).ISBN0-14-100146-1
- Manchester, William.American Caesar: Douglas MacArthur 1880–1964.Little, Brown and Company (1978).ISBN0-316-54498-1
- Spector, Ronald.Eagle Against the Sun: The American War With Japan.Vintage; Vintage edition (1985).ISBN0-394-74101-3
- Toland, John.The Rising Sun: The Decline and Fall of the Japanese Empire, 1936–1945.Modern Library; Reprint edition (2003).ISBN0-8129-6858-1
| Empire of Japan,1868–1947 |
| ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| State of Japan,1947–present |
| ||||||
- 1887 births
- 1990 deaths
- 20th-century prime ministers of Japan
- Nobility from Kyoto
- Imperial Japanese Army generals of World War II
- Japanese princes
- Higashikuni-no-miya
- Japanese centenarians
- Ministers of the Imperial Japanese Army
- Members of the House of Peers (Japan)
- Men centenarians
- Recipients of the Order of the Golden Kite
- Recipients of the Order of the Paulownia Flowers
- École Spéciale Militaire de Saint-Cyr alumni
- Japanese human subject research
- Japanese war criminals