Prince Kuni Asaakira
Encyclopedia
, was third head of the Kuni-no-miya
, a collateral branch
of the Japanese imperial family
and vice admiral
in the Japanese Imperial Navy during World War II
. He was the elder brother of Empress Kojun (Nagako)
, the consort of Emperor Shōwa (Hirohito)
, and thus a maternal uncle to the current Emperor Akihito.
, the eldest son of Prince Kuni Kuniyoshi
and his wife, Chikako, the seventh daughter of Duke
Shimazu Tadayoshi
, the last daimyō
of Satsuma Domain. In 1921, he served for the customary term in the House of Peers. Upon his father's death on 29 January 1929, he succeeded as head of the Kuni-no-miya house.
in 1921. He served as a midshipman
on the cruiser
and battleship
. After his commissioning as ensign
, he was assigned to the battleship , followed by battleships and . After his graduation from the Naval Staff College
in 1925, he was assigned to the battleship , followed by battleship . He rose to the rank of lieutenant
in 1928. In 1931, Prince Kuni became the chief gunnery officer aboard the cruiser .
In August 1934, he transferred to the cruiser in the same capacity. Two years later, he rose to the rank of lieutenant commander
in 1936 and was assigned to the Imperial Japanese Navy General Staff
Office. He was reassigned to the battleship Nagato in 1937, at the start of the Second Sino-Japanese War
. He was promoted to captain
in 1938. His first command was that of Yakumo from 2 July 1940. The was subsequently re-assigned to naval aviation
, commanding fighter squadrons at Kisarazu
and Takao
during World War II
.
Prince Kuni was promoted to rear admiral
on 1 November 1942, and was given command of the Japanese 19th Naval Fighter Wing, which supported the Japanese occupation of Timor
in the Pacific War
.
He was promoted to the rank of vice admiral
on 1 May 1945, and remained on active service with Imperial Japanese Navy Aviation Bureau
in the southern front until the end of the war.
. Prince and Princess Kuni Asaakira had eight children: five daughters and three sons:
's abolition of the collateral branches of the Japanese Imperial family. As a former naval officer, he was also purged from holding any public office. Hoping to capitalize on his close ties to the throne (his sister was the empress), former prince Kuni Asaakira started a luxury perfume line carrying the imperial chrysanthemum
logo. However, since few Japanese had money to purchase luxury items during the American Occupation
, the Kuni Perfume Company quickly went bankrupt. He later became president of the Japan Shepherd Dog Association, and an avid orchid grower, and held posts in the Association of Shinto Shrines
, the religious corporation which succeeded the government in the control of Shinto
shrines.
The former prince died of a heart attack
at age 57 and his elder son Kuni Kuniaki (born March 25, 1929) succeeded him as titular head of the former Kuni-no-miya family.
Kuni-no-miya
The was the second oldest collateral branch of the Japanese Imperial Family created from the Fushimi-no-miya, the oldest of the four branches of the imperial dynasty allowed to provide a successor to the Chrysanthemum throne should the main imperial line fail to produce an heir.The Kuni-no-miya...
, a collateral branch
Oke
The , were branches of the Japanese Imperial Family created from branches of the Fushimi-no-miya house. All but one of the ōke were formed by the descendants of Prince Fushimi Kuniye. The ōke were stripped of their membership in the Imperial Family by the American Occupation Authorities in...
of the Japanese imperial family
Imperial House of Japan
The , also referred to as the Imperial Family or the Yamato Dynasty, comprises those members of the extended family of the reigning Emperor of Japan who undertake official and public duties. Under the present Constitution of Japan, the emperor is the symbol of the state and unity of the people...
and vice admiral
Vice Admiral
Vice admiral is a senior naval rank of a three-star flag officer, which is equivalent to lieutenant general in the other uniformed services. A vice admiral is typically senior to a rear admiral and junior to an admiral...
in the Japanese Imperial Navy during 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...
. He was the elder brother of Empress Kojun (Nagako)
Nagako
Nagako is an uncommon Japanese given name for females. Although written romanized the same way, the kanji can be different., later Empress Kōjun of Japan *Nagako Konishi , a female composer...
, the consort of Emperor Shōwa (Hirohito)
Hirohito
, posthumously in Japan officially called Emperor Shōwa or , was the 124th Emperor of Japan according to the traditional order, reigning from December 25, 1926, until his death in 1989. Although better known outside of Japan by his personal name Hirohito, in Japan he is now referred to...
, and thus a maternal uncle to the current Emperor Akihito.
Early life
Prince Kuni Asaakira was born in TokyoTokyo
, ; 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...
, the eldest son of Prince Kuni Kuniyoshi
Prince Kuni Kuniyoshi
was a member of the Japanese imperial family and a field marshal in the Imperial Japanese Army during the Meiji and Taishō periods. He was the father of Empress Kōjun , and therefore, the maternal grandfather of the present emperor of Japan, Akihito.-Early life:Prince Kuni Kuniyoshi was born in...
and his wife, Chikako, the seventh daughter of Duke
Duke
A duke or duchess is a member of the nobility, historically of highest rank below the monarch, and historically controlling a duchy...
Shimazu Tadayoshi
Shimazu Tadayoshi
was a daimyo of Satsuma Province during Japan's Sengoku period.He was born to a branch family of the Shimazu clan, the Mimasaka Shimazu family but after his father Shimazu Yoshihisa died, his mother married Shimazu Unkyu of another branch family, the Soshū...
, the last daimyō
Daimyo
is a generic term referring to the powerful territorial lords in pre-modern Japan who ruled most of the country from their vast, hereditary land holdings...
of Satsuma Domain. In 1921, he served for the customary term in the House of Peers. Upon his father's death on 29 January 1929, he succeeded as head of the Kuni-no-miya house.
Military career
Prince Kuni graduated from the 49th class of the Imperial Japanese Naval AcademyImperial 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...
in 1921. He served as a 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...
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 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...
. After his commissioning as ensign
Ensign (rank)
Ensign is a junior rank of a commissioned officer in the armed forces of some countries, normally in the infantry or navy. As the junior officer in an infantry regiment was traditionally the carrier of the ensign flag, the rank itself acquired the name....
, he was assigned to the battleship , followed by battleships and . After his graduation from the Naval Staff 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....
in 1925, he was assigned to the battleship , followed by battleship . He rose to the rank of lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
in 1928. In 1931, Prince Kuni became the chief gunnery officer aboard the cruiser .
In August 1934, he transferred to the cruiser in the same capacity. Two years later, he rose to the rank of lieutenant commander
Lieutenant Commander
Lieutenant Commander is a commissioned officer rank in many navies. The rank is superior to a lieutenant and subordinate to a commander...
in 1936 and was assigned to the Imperial Japanese Navy General Staff
Imperial Japanese Navy General Staff
The was the highest organ within the Imperial Japanese Navy. In charge of planning and operations, it was headed by an Admiral headquartered in Tokyo.-History:...
Office. He was reassigned to the battleship Nagato in 1937, at the start of the Second Sino-Japanese War
Second Sino-Japanese War
The Second Sino-Japanese War was a military conflict fought primarily between the Republic of China and the Empire of Japan. From 1937 to 1941, China fought Japan with some economic help from Germany , the Soviet Union and the United States...
. He was promoted to captain
Captain (naval)
Captain is the name most often given in English-speaking navies to the rank corresponding to command of the largest ships. The NATO rank code is OF-5, equivalent to an army full colonel....
in 1938. His first command was that of Yakumo from 2 July 1940. The was subsequently re-assigned to naval aviation
Naval aviation
Naval aviation is the application of manned military air power by navies, including ships that embark fixed-wing aircraft or helicopters. In contrast, maritime aviation is the operation of aircraft in a maritime role under the command of non-naval forces such as the former RAF Coastal Command or a...
, commanding fighter squadrons at Kisarazu
Kisarazu, Chiba
is a city located in Chiba, Japan. As of September 2010, Kisarazu has an estimated population of 126,906 and a density of 915 persons per km². The total area was 138.73 km²....
and Takao
Kaohsiung
Kaohsiung is a city located in southwestern Taiwan, facing the Taiwan Strait on the west. Kaohsiung, officially named Kaohsiung City, is divided into thirty-eight districts. The city is one of five special municipalities of the Republic of China...
during 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...
.
Prince Kuni was promoted to rear admiral
Rear Admiral
Rear admiral is a naval commissioned officer rank above that of a commodore and captain, and below that of a vice admiral. It is generally regarded as the lowest of the "admiral" ranks, which are also sometimes referred to as "flag officers" or "flag ranks"...
on 1 November 1942, and was given command of the Japanese 19th Naval Fighter Wing, which supported the Japanese occupation of Timor
Timor
Timor is an island at the southern end of Maritime Southeast Asia, north of the Timor Sea. It is divided between the independent state of East Timor, and West Timor, belonging to the Indonesian province of East Nusa Tenggara. The island's surface is 30,777 square kilometres...
in the Pacific War
Pacific War
The Pacific War, also sometimes called the Asia-Pacific War refers broadly to the parts of World War II that took place in the Pacific Ocean, its islands, and in East Asia, then called the Far East...
.
He was promoted to the rank of vice admiral
Vice Admiral
Vice admiral is a senior naval rank of a three-star flag officer, which is equivalent to lieutenant general in the other uniformed services. A vice admiral is typically senior to a rear admiral and junior to an admiral...
on 1 May 1945, and remained on active service with Imperial Japanese Navy Aviation Bureau
Imperial Japanese Navy Aviation Bureau
The Imperial Japanese Navy Aviation Bureau of the Ministry of the Navy of Japan was responsible for the development and training of the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service...
in the southern front until the end of the war.
Marriage and Family
On July 25, 1925, Prince Kuni Asaakira married his cousin, Princess Tomoko (May 18, 1907-June 30, 1947), the third daughter 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:...
. Prince and Princess Kuni Asaakira had eight children: five daughters and three sons:
As a commoner
On October 14, 1947, Prince Kuni Asaakira and his children lost their imperial status and became ordinary citizens, as part of the American OccupationSupreme Commander of the Allied Powers
Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers was the title held by General Douglas MacArthur during the Occupation of Japan following World War II...
's abolition of the collateral branches of the Japanese Imperial family. As a former naval officer, he was also purged from holding any public office. Hoping to capitalize on his close ties to the throne (his sister was the empress), former prince Kuni Asaakira started a luxury perfume line carrying the imperial chrysanthemum
Chrysanthemum
Chrysanthemums, often called mums or chrysanths, are of the genus constituting approximately 30 species of perennial flowering plants in the family Asteraceae which is native to Asia and northeastern Europe.-Etymology:...
logo. However, since few Japanese had money to purchase luxury items during the American Occupation
Occupied Japan
At the end of World War II, Japan was occupied by the Allied Powers, led by the United States with contributions also from Australia, India, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. This foreign presence marked the first time in its history that the island nation had been occupied by a foreign power...
, the Kuni Perfume Company quickly went bankrupt. He later became president of the Japan Shepherd Dog Association, and an avid orchid grower, and held posts in the Association of Shinto Shrines
Association of Shinto Shrines
The is a religious administrative organization that oversees about 80,000 Shinto shrines in Japan. These shrines take the Ise Shrine as the foundation of their belief.The Association has five major activities:...
, the religious corporation which succeeded the government in the control of Shinto
Shinto
or Shintoism, also kami-no-michi, is the indigenous spirituality of Japan and the Japanese people. It is a set of practices, to be carried out diligently, to establish a connection between present day Japan and its ancient past. Shinto practices were first recorded and codified in the written...
shrines.
The former prince died of a heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
at age 57 and his elder son Kuni Kuniaki (born March 25, 1929) succeeded him as titular head of the former Kuni-no-miya family.
Books
- Foreign Affairs Association of Japan, The Japan Year Book, 1939-40 (Tokyo: Kenkyusha Press, 1939).
- Foreign Affairs Association of Japan, The Japan Year Book, 1945 (Tokyo: Kenkyusha Press, 1946).
- Lebra, Sugiyama Takie. Above the Clouds: Status Culture of the Modern Japanese Nobility. University of California Press (1995). ISBN 0520076028