Morihiro Higashikuni

Morihiro Higashikuni (東久邇 盛厚), formerly HIH Prince Morihiro Higashikuni (東久邇宮盛厚王) was a member of a branch line of the Japanese imperial family and husband of the Emperor Hirohito's eldest daughter.

Early life
The eldest son and heir of Prince Naruhiko Higashikuni, Prince Morihiro had the distinction of being a grandson of Emperor Meiji and simultaneously both a first cousin and a son-in-law of Emperor Hirohito. He was born in Tokyo, and like most male members of the imperial family during the Empire of Japan, was groomed to pursue a career in the military from an early age.

Military career
After graduation from the Gakushuin Peers’ School and the Central Military Preparatory School, Prince Higashikuni served for a session in the House of Peers. He graduated from the 49th class of Imperial Japanese Army Academy in 1938, and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the field artillery. He was soon promoted to first lieutenant in the IJA First Artillery Regiment, and was stationed in Manchukuo.

During the Nomonhan Incident in summer 1939, he commanded the First Battery, 1st Heavy Field Artillery Regiment of the Kwantung Army. He withdrew in face of the Soviet counter-offensive without orders during the heat of battle, and was transferred back to Japan on 2 August 1939. The incident was suppressed by Japanese military censors, but provided much propaganda for the Soviet Army. Despite this apparent blot on his service record, he was promoted to captain of the artillery in 1941. He attended the Army War College from 1942–1944, and on graduation was placed on the reserve list.

Marriage and family
On 10 October 1943, Prince Higashikuni married eighteen-year-old Princess Shigeko Teru ( 9 December 1925 –  23 July 1961), the eldest daughter of Emperor Shōwa and Empress Kōjun, who was widely known by her childhood appellation Teru-no-miya. The bride and groom were related several times over through their common descent from Emperor Meiji and Prince Kuni Asahiko (the father of Prince Naruhiko Higashikuni and the grandfather of Empress Kōjun).

The couple had five children, the last three of whom were born after the Higashikuni family was removed from the Imperial Household register:


 * 1) Prince Nobuhiko Higashikuni (東久邇宮 信彦王); married 1973 Miss Yoshiko Shimada, with one son, Yukihiko Higashikuni (b. 1974)
 * 2) Princess Fumiko Higashikuni (文子女王); married Mr. Kazutoshi Omura.
 * 3) Hidehiko Higashikuni (東久邇 秀彦): adopted by the Mibu family as "Motohiro Mibu"
 * 4) Naohiko Higashikuni (東久邇 真彦); married to Ms. Kazuko Sato, with two sons, Teruhiko and Mutsuhiko
 * 5) Yūko Higashikuni (東久邇 優子)

His first wife, former Princess Shigeko, died of cancer in July 1961. In 1964, Morihiro Higashikuni married Miss Yoshiko Terao. The second marriage produced two children:


 * 1) Atsuhiko Higashikuni
 * 2) Morihiko Higashikuni

Later life
In October 1947, the Higashikuni and other branches of the Japanese Imperial Family were divested of their titles and privileges during the American occupation of Japan and became commoners. As a commoner, he attempted several unsuccessful business ventures before eventually becoming the chief of the research division of the Hokkaido Mining and Steamship Company. He died of lung cancer at St. Luke's Medical Center in Tokyo in 1969.