Hiroshi Sho
Encyclopedia
was the head of the Shō family, the Okinawan former royal family. He was the great-grandson of Shō Tai
, the last king of the Ryūkyū Kingdom
, and was the last member of the family to hold the title of . Like most members of the kazoku
system of peerage, and all heads of the Shō family since the abolition of the Ryūkyū Kingdom, he lived in Tokyo
for his whole life.
Hiroshi Shō was born the eldest son of Shō Shō. Upon his father's death in 1923, he became head of the family and inherited the title of marquis. He graduated from Tokyo Imperial University earning a degree in East Asian history from the Department of Literature, and served for a time as a captain in the Japanese Imperial Navy. He was also active in the business world, working with various institutions, including Shō Enterprises, where he was representative director. He lost his title, as did all other members of the kazoku
system of peerage, with the implementation of the post-war
Constitution of Japan
in 1947.
Late in life, in the 1990s, Hiroshi Shō donated many Shō family possessions, including artworks, ritual objects, historical documents, the royal mausoleum of Tamaudun
and royal gardens of Shikinaen to the City of Naha. He also donated artworks, documents, and other family possessions to the city of Urasoe and village of Izena.
Hiroshi Shō died on 30 August 1996. His funeral was held in Tokyo, though he was entombed in Izena Tamaudun on the Okinawan island of Izena.
He had four daughters and one son, Mamoru Shō (尚衞), who is the current head of the Shō family.
Sho Tai
was the last king of the Ryūkyū Kingdom . His reign saw greatly increased interactions with travelers from abroad, particularly from Europe and the United States, as well as the eventual end of the kingdom and its annexation by Japan as Okinawa Prefecture.In 1879, the deposed king was forced to...
, the last king of the Ryūkyū Kingdom
Ryukyu Kingdom
The Ryūkyū Kingdom was an independent kingdom which ruled most of the Ryukyu Islands from the 15th century to the 19th century. The Kings of Ryūkyū unified Okinawa Island and extended the kingdom to the Amami Islands in modern-day Kagoshima Prefecture, and the Sakishima Islands near Taiwan...
, and was the last member of the family to hold the title of . Like most members of the kazoku
Kazoku
The was the hereditary peerage of the Empire of Japan that existed between 1869 and 1947.-Origins:Following the Meiji Restoration of 1868, the ancient court nobility of Kyoto regained some of its lost status...
system of peerage, and all heads of the Shō family since the abolition of the Ryūkyū Kingdom, he lived 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...
for his whole life.
Hiroshi Shō was born the eldest son of Shō Shō. Upon his father's death in 1923, he became head of the family and inherited the title of marquis. He graduated from Tokyo Imperial University earning a degree in East Asian history from the Department of Literature, and served for a time as a captain in the Japanese Imperial Navy. He was also active in the business world, working with various institutions, including Shō Enterprises, where he was representative director. He lost his title, as did all other members of the kazoku
Kazoku
The was the hereditary peerage of the Empire of Japan that existed between 1869 and 1947.-Origins:Following the Meiji Restoration of 1868, the ancient court nobility of Kyoto regained some of its lost status...
system of peerage, with the implementation of the post-war
Post-war
A post-war period or postwar period is the interval immediately following the ending of a war and enduring as long as war does not resume. A post-war period can become an interwar period or interbellum when a war between the same parties resumes at a later date...
Constitution of Japan
Constitution of Japan
The is the fundamental law of Japan. It was enacted on 3 May, 1947 as a new constitution for postwar Japan.-Outline:The constitution provides for a parliamentary system of government and guarantees certain fundamental rights...
in 1947.
Late in life, in the 1990s, Hiroshi Shō donated many Shō family possessions, including artworks, ritual objects, historical documents, the royal mausoleum of Tamaudun
Tamaudun
is a mausoleum in Shuri, Okinawa, built for Ryūkyūan royalty in 1501 by King Shō Shin, the third king of the second Shō dynasty a short distance from Shuri Castle....
and royal gardens of Shikinaen to the City of Naha. He also donated artworks, documents, and other family possessions to the city of Urasoe and village of Izena.
Hiroshi Shō died on 30 August 1996. His funeral was held in Tokyo, though he was entombed in Izena Tamaudun on the Okinawan island of Izena.
He had four daughters and one son, Mamoru Shō (尚衞), who is the current head of the Shō family.