Prince Hitachi

For other uses, see Masahito (disambiguation)

Masahito 常陸宮正仁親王 Prince Hitachi Prince Hitachi and his youngest sister Princess Takako in 1952 Spouse Hanako Tsugaru Father Emperor Shōwa Mother Empress Kōjun Born 28 November 1935 (1935-11-28) (age 75) Tokyo, Japan Occupation Prince of Japan

Imperial House of Japan HIM The Emperor HIM The Empress HIH The Crown Prince HIH The Crown Princess HIH The Princess Toshi HIH The Prince Akishino HIH The Princess Akishino HIH Princess Mako of Akishino HIH Princess Kako of Akishino HIH Prince Hisahito of Akishino HIH The Prince Hitachi HIH The Princess Hitachi HIH The Prince Mikasa HIH The Princess Mikasa HIH Prince Tomohito of Mikasa HIH Princess Tomohito of Mikasa HIH Princess Akiko of Mikasa HIH Princess Yōko of Mikasa HIH The Prince Katsura HIH The Princess Takamado HIH Princess Tsuguko of Takamado HIH Princess Noriko of Takamado HIH Princess Ayako of Takamado

Prince Hitachi (常陸宮正仁親王, Hitachi-no-miya Masahito Shinnō^?, born 28 November 1935) is a member of the Imperial House of Japan and the younger brother of current Emperor Akihito. He is the second son and sixth born child of HIM Emperor Shōwa and Empress Kōjun and is fourth in line to the Chrysanthemum throne. Prince Hitachi is mainly known for philanthropic activities and his research on the causes of cancer.

Biography

Education

Born at the Tokyo Imperial Palace, Prince Masahito held the childhood appellation Prince Yoshi (義宮正仁親王, Yoshi-no-miya Masahito Shinnō^?).

He received his primary and secondary schooling at the Gakushuin Peers’ School. In late 1944, the Imperial Household Ministry evacuated Prince Yoshi and the Crown Prince to Nikkō, to escape the American bombing of Tokyo.

After the war, from 1947 to 1950, Mrs. Elizabeth Gray Vining tutored both princes and their sisters, the Princesses Kazuko, Atsuko, and Takako, in the English language. Her account of the experience is entitled Windows for the Crown Prince (1952).

Prince Yoshi received his undergraduate degree in chemistry from the Faculty of Science at Gakushuin University in 1958. He subsequently did postgraduate work in the Faculty of Science at Tokyo University. In 1969, he became a Research Associate of the Japanese Foundation for Cancer Research specializing in the study of cellular division. The results of his research have been reported in the technical journals of the Japanese Cancer Association, as well as of the American Association for Cancer Research.

In 1997, Prince Hitachi received an honorary doctorate from George Washington University in the United States, and in April 2001 received another from the University of Minnesota. In March 1999, he became an honorary member of the German Association for Cancer Research, in recognition of his significant scientific contributions to the field of cancer research.

Marriage and family

On 30 September 1964, the Prince married Hanako Tsugaru (born 19 July 1940), fourth daughter of the late Yoshitaka Tsugaru, a former count and a descendant of the daimyō of Tsugaru Domain. The following day, Emperor Shōwa granted him the title Hitachi-no-miya (Prince Hitachi), and authorization to start a new branch of the Imperial Family in celebration of his wedding.

Prince Hitachi and Princess Hitachi have their official residence in a palace in large gardens off Komazawadori in Higashi, Tokyo^[1]

Prince and Princess Hitachi have no children.

Public service

Prince Hitachi is the honorary president of a wide variety of charitable organizations, especially those involving international exchange. Most recently, Prince and Princess Hitachi visited Nicaragua and El Salvador, to mark the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations with both countries in October 2005. They also made a visit to France in September 2007 and Peru, marking the celebration of 110 years since the establishment of a Japanese community in this country, June 2009.

Honorary positions

• Reserve Member of the Imperial Household Council
• President of the Japanese Society for the Preservation of Birds
• President of the Japanese Society for Disabled Children
• President of the Japan Institute of Invention and Innovation
• President of the Japan-Denmark Society
• President of the Dainippon Silk Foundation
• President of the Japanese Society for Rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities
• President of the Japan Art Association
• President of the Japan Amateur Basketball Association
• President of the Tokyo Zoological Park Society
• President of Maison Franco-Japonaise
• Honorary President of the Japan-Sweden Society
• Honorary President of the Japan-Belgium Society
• Honorary President of the Japanese Foundation for Cancer Research
• Honorary President of Association Pasteur Japon
• Honorary Vice-President of the Japanese Red Cross Society

Styles of Prince Hitachi (Masahito) of Japan
Reference style	His Imperial Highness
Spoken style	Your Imperial Highness
Alternative style	Sir

Ancestry

Masahito's ancestors in three generations

Masahito	Father: Hirohito, Emperor Shōwa	Paternal Grandfather: Yoshihito, Emperor Taishō	Paternal Great-grandfather: Mutsuhito, Emperor Meiji
			Paternal Great-grandmother: Adopted: Haruko, Empress Shōken; Biological: Lady Yanagihara Naruko , concubine
		Paternal Grandmother: Princess Sadako of the Fujiwara Clan, Empress Teimei	Paternal Great-grandfather: Prince Kujō Michitaka of the Fujiwara Clan
			Paternal Great-grandmother: Lady Noma Ikuko, concubine
	Mother: Nagako, Empress Kōjun	Maternal Grandfather: Imperial Prince Kuniyoshi Kuni	Maternal Great-grandfather: Prince Kuni Asahiko
			Maternal Great-grandmother: Lady Isume Makiko, concubine
		Maternal Grandmother: Princess Shimazu Chikako of Satsuma	Maternal Great-grandfather: Prince Shimazu Tadayoshi, 29th and last Daimyo of Satsuma, Osumi and Hyuga
			Maternal Great-grandmother: Lady Hiro Sumako, concubine

• Ancestry in Genealogics

External links

• Kunaicho | Their Imperial Highnesses Prince and Princess Hitachi

References

1. ^ Kunaicho | The Imperial Palace and other Imperial Household Establishments

Prince Hitachi Imperial House of Japan Born: 28 November 1935
Japanese royalty
Preceded by Prince Hisahito	Line of succession to the Japanese throne 4th position	Succeeded by Prince Mikasa

Persondata
Name	Hitachi, Prince
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	28 November 1935
Place of birth	Tokyo, Japan
Date of death
Place of death