Kacho Hironobu
Encyclopedia
, was a descendent of the Fushimi-no-miya
collateral branch
of the Japanese imperial family.
, he was also the younger brother of Prince Kachō Hirotada
. As Prince Hirotada died without heirs, the Kachō-no-miya
household became extinct. Prince Hironobu was appointed to perpetuate the Kachō name, in order to ensure that the proper familial and ancestral rites were performed, but his status was devolved in December 1926 to the peerage title of marquis
(kōshaku) under the kazoku
peerage system.
A career officer in the Imperial Japanese Navy
, Prince Hironobu graduated from the 53rd class of the Imperial Japanese Naval Academy
. He served his midshipman
tour on the cruiser
, and as a sub-lieutenant on the battleship
. In 1932, he was assigned to the cruiser . He subsequently served as chief torpedo officer on the destroyer
s and , rising to the rank of commander
. In 1935, he served for a session in the House of Peers
in the Diet of Japan
. In 1939, he was appointed superintendent of the Naval War College
, and remained in that post through World War II
, retiring in November 1945.
Kachō Hironobu married Kan’in Hanako (1909-2003), 5th daughter of Prince Kan'in Kotohito
, but they subsequently divorced. The couple had two sons:
His palatial residence in Kamakura, Kanagawa
(built in 1929) survives, and was donated to the city of Kamakura in 1996.
Fushimi-no-miya
The ' is the oldest of the four shinnōke, branches of the Imperial Family of Japan which were eligible to succeed to the Chrysanthemum Throne in the event that the main line should die out....
collateral branch
Shinnoke
was the collective name for the four cadet branches of the Imperial Household of Japan, which were until 1947 entitled to provide a successor to the Chrysanthemum throne if the main line failed to produce an heir...
of the Japanese imperial family.
Biography
Born as Prince Fushimi Hironobu, the third son of Prince Fushimi HiroyasuPrince Fushimi Hiroyasu
was a scion of the Japanese imperial family and was a career naval officer who served as chief of staff of the Imperial Japanese Navy from 1932 to 1941.-Early life:...
, he was also the younger brother of Prince Kachō Hirotada
Prince Kacho Hirotada
align=right| of Japan, was a member of a collateral branch of the Japanese imperial family.-Biography:Prince Hirotada was the second son of Prince Fushimi Hiroyasu. His mother was Tokugawa Tsuneko, the 9th daughter of the last Tokugawa Shogun, Tokugawa Yoshinobu...
. As Prince Hirotada died without heirs, the Kachō-no-miya
Kacho-no-miya
The Kachō no Miya is the Imperial Branch House miyake established in the fourth year of the Keiou Era, or 1868, by the twelfth prince of Fushimi no Miya Kuniie, named Kacho no Miya Hirotsune...
household became extinct. Prince Hironobu was appointed to perpetuate the Kachō name, in order to ensure that the proper familial and ancestral rites were performed, but his status was devolved in December 1926 to the peerage title of marquis
Marquis
Marquis is a French and Scottish title of nobility. The English equivalent is Marquess, while in German, it is Markgraf.It may also refer to:Persons:...
(kōshaku) under 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...
peerage system.
A career officer in the Imperial Japanese Navy
Imperial Japanese Navy
The Imperial Japanese Navy was the navy of the Empire of Japan from 1869 until 1947, when it was dissolved following Japan's constitutional renunciation of the use of force as a means of settling international disputes...
, Prince Hironobu graduated from the 53rd class of the Imperial Japanese Naval Academy
Imperial Japanese Naval Academy
The was a school established to train officers for the Imperial Japanese Navy. It originally located in Nagasaki, moved to Yokohama in 1866, and was relocated to Tsukiji, Tokyo in 1869. It moved to Etajima, Hiroshima in 1888...
. He served his midshipman
Midshipman
A midshipman is an officer cadet, or a commissioned officer of the lowest rank, in the Royal Navy, United States Navy, and many Commonwealth navies. Commonwealth countries which use the rank include Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, India, Pakistan, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Kenya...
tour on the cruiser
Cruiser
A cruiser is a type of warship. The term has been in use for several hundreds of years, and has had different meanings throughout this period...
, and as a sub-lieutenant on the battleship
Battleship
A battleship is a large armored warship with a main battery consisting of heavy caliber guns. Battleships were larger, better armed and armored than cruisers and destroyers. As the largest armed ships in a fleet, battleships were used to attain command of the sea and represented the apex of a...
. In 1932, he was assigned to the cruiser . He subsequently served as chief torpedo officer on the destroyer
Destroyer
In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against smaller, powerful, short-range attackers. Destroyers, originally called torpedo-boat destroyers in 1892, evolved from...
s and , rising to the rank of commander
Commander
Commander is a naval rank which is also sometimes used as a military title depending on the individual customs of a given military service. Commander is also used as a rank or title in some organizations outside of the armed forces, particularly in police and law enforcement.-Commander as a naval...
. In 1935, he served for a session in the House of Peers
House of Peers (Japan)
The ' was the upper house of the Imperial Diet as mandated under the Constitution of the Empire of Japan ....
in the Diet of Japan
Diet of Japan
The is Japan's bicameral legislature. It is composed of a lower house, called the House of Representatives, and an upper house, called the House of Councillors. Both houses of the Diet are directly elected under a parallel voting system. In addition to passing laws, the Diet is formally...
. In 1939, he was appointed superintendent of the Naval War College
Naval War College (Japan)
The was the staff college of the Imperial Japanese Navy, responsible for training officers for command positions either on warships, or in staff roles....
, and remained in that post through World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, retiring in November 1945.
Kachō Hironobu married Kan’in Hanako (1909-2003), 5th daughter of Prince Kan'in Kotohito
Prince Kan'in Kotohito
, wasthe sixth head of a cadet branch the Japanese imperial family, and a career army officer who served as Chief of the Imperial Japanese Army General Staff from 1931 to 1940.-Early years:...
, but they subsequently divorced. The couple had two sons:
- Kachō Hiromichi
- Kachō Hirotaka (who was adopted by Count Fushimi HirohideCount Fushimi Hirohideof Japan, was a member of a collateral branch of the Japanese imperial family.-Biography:Born as Prince Fushimi Hirohide, the younger son of Prince Fushimi Hiroyasu, he was also the younger brother of Prince Fushimi Hiroyoshi, Prince Kachō Hirotada and Marquis Kachō Hironobu.Prince Hirohide , on...
)
His palatial residence in Kamakura, Kanagawa
Kamakura, Kanagawa
is a city located in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan, about south-south-west of Tokyo. It used to be also called .Although Kamakura proper is today rather small, it is often described in history books as a former de facto capital of Japan as the seat of the Shogunate and of the Regency during the...
(built in 1929) survives, and was donated to the city of Kamakura in 1996.