Higašikuni, Naruhiko

Prince Naruhiko was born in Kyoto. He began his military career as a cadet at the Imperial Military Academy, graduating in 1908, and later at the Army College, graduating in 1914.

On graduation he is attached to the 29th Infantry Brigade and becomes a Captain and in 1915 a Major, serving with the 7th Division.


From 1920 to 1926 he studies tactics at the École Spéciale Militaire de Saint-Cyr in Paris. Upon his return, he is assigned to the Imperial General Staff and becomes a Major General.

1930-1933 he commands the 5th Infantry Brigade, 1933-1934 2nd Division and 1934-1937 the 4th Division. After the outbreak of the Second Sino-Japanese War, he is given command of the Imperial Air Service from 1937-1938. In 1938 he takes command of the 2nd Army, which is based in China, and commands this until 1939.


On August 16, 1938 he gives orders that poison gas may be used against Chinese troops.


Subsequently he becomes a general and in 1940 receives the order of the Golden Lancer of the 1st Tr.


On October 15, 1941, outgoing Prime Minister Fumimaro Konoe proposes Emperor Hirohito Prince as his successor. In addition to himself, the Chiefs of Staff of the Army and Navy also nominate him for the position.

However, the Emperor and Kido Koichi Kido were not in favor of the idea, as it was inappropriate for a member of the imperial family to hold this political post, where he could be the target of criticism for military misadventures. He is subsequently appointed Prime Minister by Gen. Hideki Tōjō.


During the first period of the Pacific War, Prince Higashikuni commands the Home Defense Command from 1941-1944.


Prince Higashikuni was an opponent of war with the Allies. He was a member of a conspiracy with Prince Asaka, Prince Takamatsu, and former Prime Minister Konoe and reportedly intended to dethrone Hirohito, replace him with the younger Akihito, and he himself would rule the country as regent.


After the war turned against Japan and ended in Europe, the Emperor decided to appoint Prince Higashikuni as Prime Minister on August 16, 1945, succeeding Admiral Kantarō Suzuki in the post.


Higashikuni as Prime Minister is tasked with halting combat operations, demobilizing the army, and ensuring that imperial institutions remain safe.


Prince Higashikuni resigns in October after only 54 days in office, following disagreements with the US occupation forces over the 1925 Peace Preservation Act.

In 1946, Prince Higashikuni asks Emperor Shōwa to allow him to resign from the Imperial Family, but is not granted.


However, despite all this, he lost his title and much of his wealth as a result of the abolition of the princely houses on October 17, 1947.


As a commoner, he engaged in various mostly unsuccessful business ventures as well as founding his own sect - Higashikuni-kyo, which was soon banned by the US occupation authorities.


The former prince became honorary president of the International Martial Arts Federation (IMAF) in 1957.


He died of heart failure in Tokyo January 20, 1990.

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