Prince Yamashina Kikumaro
Encyclopedia
{|align=right
|
, was the second head of the Yamashina-no-miya
, a collateral line
of the Japanese imperial family.
. His mother was a concubine, Nakajo Chieko, but as Prince Akira had no children by his official wife, Princess Katsura Sumiko (the half-sister of Emperor Kōmei
), Kikumaro was adopted as his official heir.
However, in 1880, he was adopted by Prince Nashimoto Moriosa
to carry on the Nashimoto line
. However, following Prince Moriosa’s death, the Nashimoto line passed to Prince Kuni Morimasa, and Prince Kikumaro was able to return as heir to the Yamashina line. On 2 February 1898, he succeeded his father as the second head of the Yamashina-no-miya house.
and received a commission as a sub-lieutenant in 1894. He served his midshipman
duties on the , followed by a tour of duty aboard the from 1902. He served in combat with distinction during the Russo-Japanese War
of 1904-1905, and was awarded the Order of the Golden Kite
(4th class). By 1905, he was promoted to the rank of captain. He entered the Naval Staff College
in January 1908, but died suddenly four months later at the young age of 35.
. Prince and Princess Yamashina had two sons and a daughter:
On 2 February 1902, the widowed Prince Yamashina married Shimazu Hisako ( 7 February 1874 – 26 February 1938), daughter of Prince Shimazu Tadayoshi
. Prince Yamashina and his second wife had three sons:
|
, was the second head of the Yamashina-no-miya
Yamashina-no-miya
The was the third 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...
, a collateral line
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.
Early life
Prince Yamashina Kikumaro was the son of Prince Yamashina AkiraPrince Yamashina Akira
align=right|' , was the founder of a collateral line of the Japanese imperial family.-Early life:Prince Akira was born in Kyoto, the eldest son of Prince Fushimi Kuniye , the twentieth head of the Fushimi-no-miya, the oldest of the four branches of the imperial dynasty allowed to provide a...
. His mother was a concubine, Nakajo Chieko, but as Prince Akira had no children by his official wife, Princess Katsura Sumiko (the half-sister of Emperor Kōmei
Emperor Komei
was the 121st emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. Kōmei's reign spanned the years from 1846 through 1867.-Genealogy:Before Kōmei's accession to the Chrysanthemum Throne, his personal name was ;, his title was ....
), Kikumaro was adopted as his official heir.
However, in 1880, he was adopted by Prince Nashimoto Moriosa
Prince Nashimoto Moriosa
align=right|, was the founder of a collateral line of the Japanese imperial family.Prince Moriosa was born in Kyoto, the 10th son of Prince Fushimi Sadayoshi , the eighteenth head of the Fushimi-no-miya, the oldest of the four branches of the imperial dynasty allowed to provide a successor to the...
to carry on the Nashimoto line
Nashimoto-no-miya
The was the 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 Yamashina-no-miya...
. However, following Prince Moriosa’s death, the Nashimoto line passed to Prince Kuni Morimasa, and Prince Kikumaro was able to return as heir to the Yamashina line. On 2 February 1898, he succeeded his father as the second head of the Yamashina-no-miya house.
Military career
Prince Yamashina Kikumaro attended 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...
and received a commission as a sub-lieutenant in 1894. 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...
duties on the , followed by a tour of duty aboard the from 1902. He served in combat with distinction during the Russo-Japanese War
Russo-Japanese War
The Russo-Japanese War was "the first great war of the 20th century." It grew out of rival imperial ambitions of the Russian Empire and Japanese Empire over Manchuria and Korea...
of 1904-1905, and was awarded the Order of the Golden Kite
Order of the Golden Kite
The ' was an order of the Empire of Japan, established on 12 February 1890 by Emperor Meiji "in commemoration of Jimmu Tennō, the Romulus of Japan."-Background:...
(4th class). By 1905, he was promoted to the rank of captain. He entered 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 January 1908, but died suddenly four months later at the young age of 35.
Marriage & Family
On 14 September 1895, Prince Yamashina Kikumaro married Kujo Noriko ( 4 December 1878 – 11 November 1901), a daughter of Prince Kujo MichitakaKujo Michitaka
, son of regent Nijō Hisatada and adopted son of his brother Yukinori, was a kuge or Japanese court noble of the late Edo period and politician of the early Meiji era who served as a member of the House of Peers...
. Prince and Princess Yamashina had two sons and a daughter:
- Prince Yamashina TakehikoPrince Yamashina Takehikoalign=right|, was the third head of the Yamashina-no-miya, a collateral line of the Japanese imperial family. He was nicknamed “the Flying Prince”.-Early life:...
( 13 February 1899 – 10 August 1987) - Marquis Yamashina Yoshimaro ( 5 July 1900 – 29 January 1989)
- Princess Yamashina Yasuko ( 31 October 1901 － 29 December 1974)
On 2 February 1902, the widowed Prince Yamashina married Shimazu Hisako ( 7 February 1874 – 26 February 1938), daughter of Prince 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...
. Prince Yamashina and his second wife had three sons:
- Marquis Fujimaro Tsukuba (b. 7 February 1905 – 20 March 1978)
- Count Hagimaro Kashima ( 21 April 1906 – 26 August 1932)
- Count Shigemaro Katsuragi ( 29 April 1908 – 10 January 1947)