Prince Tomohito of Mikasa

2.1. Childhood and Academic Life

Prince Tomohito was born on January 5, 1946, at the Mikasa-no-miya temporary residence (a former Mitsui family villa) in Hayama, Kanagawa Prefecture. As the first nephew of Emperor Shōwa, he was especially cherished by Empress Teimei, the grandmother. He attended Seishin Joshi Gakuin Kindergarten, then Gakushuin Primary School, Gakushuin Boys' Junior and Senior High School, and finally Gakushuin University. His father, Prince Mikasa, adopted a "laissez-faire" approach to his upbringing, and Prince Tomohito later recalled never being told to study. At Gakushuin Primary School, he received special treatment, with a private shoe locker. Fellow students who called him "Tomo-chan" were scolded by teachers to address him as "His Imperial Highness."

Despite his academic struggles, which he described as "terrible," he excelled in sports, particularly skiing, which he began in fourth grade and achieved a first-grade ski badge by his second year of high school. In high school, he joined the cheerleading squad, becoming its leader in his third year. To project authority, he began growing a mustache in his second year and a full beard in his third year, a practice not then restricted by school rules. He later candidly admitted on the television program Tetsuko's Room in 1977 that he "acted like a hoodlum" in high school, starting to smoke in his first year and drink even earlier.

In January 1966, upon reaching adulthood, he was awarded the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Chrysanthemum. In September of the same year, while driving his car, a Prince Skyline GT-B, he caused a traffic accident on Omotesando in Jingumae, Shibuya, Tokyo, hitting a motorcycle while attempting a U-turn. The motorcycle rider suffered a serious fracture of the left femur, requiring six months for full recovery, and a boy on the passenger seat sustained minor injuries. Having promised his mother, Princess Mikasa, that he would stop driving if he caused an accident, he voluntarily returned his driver's license to the Tokyo Metropolitan Public Safety Commission.

After graduating from the Department of Political Studies in the Faculty of Law at Gakushuin University in 1968, he studied at Magdalen College, University of Oxford, in the United Kingdom from April 1968 to August 1970. His study abroad was encouraged by his father and his aunt by marriage, Princess Setsuko Chichibu. Magdalen College was also the alma mater of his uncle, Prince Yasuhito Chichibu. Initially, his English was limited to "How do you do?" and "Thank you very much." After three months at Godmer House School, he moved to the college, where he spent "six or seven tenths" of his effort on weekly papers and the rest "socializing." His guarantor was John Keswick of the Keswick family, and his wife's family, the Asō family, also looked after him. During his stay in the UK, he was invited by Elizabeth II to Buckingham Palace, where he met Prince Philip, Prince Charles (then Crown Prince), and Princess Anne. He also spent six months skiing in Switzerland and Austria during his European stay.

On his 24th birthday on January 5, 1970, he hosted a costume party at the Japanese Ambassador's residence in London. Encouraged by a friend to dress as a "Grand Marshal" because of his resemblance to his great-grandfather, Emperor Meiji, he received a cavalry officer's uniform from his father (who had been a cavalry officer in the Imperial Japanese Army) and wore it. Some Japanese newspapers criticized this. He also failed to pay a parking fine, leading to an arrest warrant being issued for him as a member of the Imperial Family.

2.2. Early Activities and Public Debut

Upon returning to Japan without earning a degree, Prince Tomohito worked as a staff member for the Sapporo Olympics Organizing Committee from 1970 to 1972, residing in Sapporo, Hokkaido. His initial salary was 41.70 K JPY. In 1975, he worked for the Secretariat of the World Ocean Youth Conference at the Okinawa International Ocean Exposition.

3.1. Marital Life

In February 1972, Prince Tomohito proposed to Nobuko Asō, who was then 16 years old. Given her young age, the engagement was delayed, officially announced on April 18, 1980, following a meeting of the Imperial Household Council. They married on November 7, 1980. Nobuko Asō is the third daughter of the late Takakichi Asō, who served as chairman of Asō Cement Co. and a member of the House of Representatives, and his wife Kazuko, the third daughter of former Prime Minister Shigeru Yoshida. She is also the sister of former Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Tarō Asō. Her paternal great-grandfather was Ōkubo Toshimichi, and her great-grandfather was Makino Nobuaki. Notably, Princess Nobuko was also Christian, having been baptized, making her the second Imperial Family member with a Christian background, after Empress Michiko. Upon their marriage, she received the title of Her Imperial Highness Princess Tomohito of Mikasa.

3.2. Children and Family Life

Prince Tomohito and Princess Nobuko had two daughters:

• Princess Akiko of Mikasa (彬子女王_{Akiko Joō}^Japanese), born December 20, 1981, in Tokyo.
• Princess Yōko of Mikasa (瑶子女王_{Yōko Joō}^Japanese), born October 25, 1983, at the Japanese Red Cross Medical Center in Tokyo.

The family resided in a compound within the Akasaka Estate complex, located in Moto-Akasaka, Minato, Tokyo.

3.3. Separation and Changes in Princely Household Status

In July 2004, Princess Nobuko separated her residence from Prince Tomohito due to stress-induced asthma. This separation continued, and by October 2009, she lived apart from him and their children. The couple were known to have a strained relationship. Despite the separation, Princess Nobuko had been the one who first noticed his esophageal cancer and meticulously prepared six different meals a day for him during his treatment. However, before his death, she was reportedly unable to visit him in the hospital due to "family intentions," and was not allowed to attend his funeral as the chief mourner.
Following Prince Tomohito's death, the Imperial Household Agency announced in June 2013 the formal dissolution of his independent princely household, the Tomohito-no-miya, retroactively to the date of his passing. This decision was influenced by the long-standing separation between Prince Tomohito and Princess Nobuko and her continued non-residence with their daughters. Consequently, Princess Nobuko and her two daughters, Princess Akiko and Princess Yoko, were integrated into the main Mikasa-no-miya house, headed by Prince Tomohito's father. The former Tomohito-no-miya residence was subsequently renamed "Mikasa-no-miya Higashi-tei" (Mikasa-no-miya East Residence), and the agency affirmed this change would not affect the daily lives of Princess Nobuko and her daughters.

4.1. Welfare and Sports Promotion Activities

Influenced by his uncle, Prince Nobuhito Takamatsu, Prince Tomohito became deeply involved in disability welfare and sports promotion from an early age. He was particularly keen on encouraging people with disabilities to participate in society through sports, personally offering instruction. His commitment extended to involvement in the operation of facilities, such as the social welfare organization ありのまま舎_{Arinomama-sha}^Japanese (a Christian Baptist-affiliated facility for people with muscular dystrophy in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture), and he engaged in public awareness through lectures and writings.

He served as president or honorary president for numerous organizations focused on social welfare and health, including the Yuai Jyuji Kai (Fraternity Red Cross Society), Arinomama-sha, the Saiseikai Imperial Gift Foundation Inc., and the Princess Takamatsu Cancer Research Fund, underscoring his dedication to improving public well-being and supporting cancer research. He himself battled cancer from 2003, lending personal insight to his advocacy.

His passion for sports led him to hold various executive positions in sports-related organizations, such as the Nippon Billiard Association, the Professional Ski Instructors Association of Japan, and the Collegiate Skating And Ice Hockey Federation. He was also an honorary president of the Japan Rugby Football Union. His name graces several sporting trophies and championships, including the All-Japan University Rugby Football Championship, the All Japan Professional Pocket Billiards Championship, and the Tomohito Shin'nō Hai World Championship Commemorative Tournament for keirin bicycle racing.

He was actively involved in events like the Iwaki-san Ski Marathon, founded in 1987 in Aomori Prefecture, where he served as president, personally directed course setting, and even competed as an athlete.

4.2. International Exchange Activities

His time studying in the United Kingdom fostered a strong interest in international goodwill, leading him to actively engage in fostering international relations and cultural exchange. He held positions such as honorary president of the Japan-British Society and the Norway-Japan Society.

He traveled extensively abroad with Princess Nobuko on various charity and support missions related to health and welfare. In December 1992, they visited the United States to support a newly established cancer ward at New York Medical College, and in 1994, they traveled to Hawaii to assist in the reconstruction of Kuakini Hospital. In February 1994, the princely couple visited Norway to attend the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer.

In April 1998, Prince Tomohito and Princess Nobuko visited Turkey for the opening ceremony of the Turkey-Japan Foundation Cultural Centre, following a previous visit in 1990 for the 100th anniversary of Japan-Turkey relations. Prince Tomohito strongly supported the establishment of a Japanese Institute of Anatolian Archaeology at the Middle Eastern Culture Center in Japan, returning to Turkey in October 2002, June 2003, and October 2003, leading groups of benefactors on tours of Turkey's heritage. In June 1998, he visited Australia for fundraising activities for a medical science foundation honoring Australian Nobel laureate Dr. Howard Walter Florey. In December of the same year, he attended the 13th Asian Games in Thailand. In April 2003, Prince Tomohito returned to Norway with his daughter, Princess Akiko, to attend the World Cross Country Ski Championships for the Visually Disabled.

4.3. Other Public Positions

In addition to his welfare and international activities, Prince Tomohito held various other honorary presidencies and public offices. He was the president of the New Technology Development Foundation, advocating for innovation. His broad involvement reflected a commitment to diverse areas of public life beyond traditional royal duties.

5.1. Imperial Succession Debate

During the Japanese imperial succession debate in the Heisei era, when Prime Minister Junichirō Koizumi supported revising the Imperial Household Law to allow female succession, Prince Tomohito became an outspoken opponent. He articulated his views primarily in "Za Tod" (ざ・とど^Japanese), the newsletter of Hakuhōkai (柏朋会^Japanese), a welfare organization where he served as chairman. He prefaced his remarks by stating they were his private opinions, not official ones.

Prince Tomohito firmly opposed female succession, questioning whether a tradition spanning over 2,000 years could be so easily altered. He argued that the unbroken "male-line" succession from the mythical Emperor Jimmu was the invaluable reason for the precious continuity of the 125 generations of emperors. To maintain male-line succession, he proposed several methods:

• The return of former Imperial family members to the Imperial registry, who had been stripped of their status in 1947.
• Allowing female Imperial family members (Princesses) to adopt male heirs from the former Imperial families, granting them succession rights.
• Re-establishing abolished princely houses, such as Prince Chichibu and Prince Takamatsu, by having former Imperial family members assume their ceremonial duties.
• The revival of the concubine system (polygamy), which he personally "strongly approved of," though he acknowledged its unlikelihood given contemporary domestic and international sentiment. He later stated this remark was made as a joke.

He concluded his remarks by urging the public to express their opinions on Japan's 2,665-year history (based on the traditional Imperial calendar), asserting that the Emperor and Crown Prince could not speak on their own family's affairs. He warned that without public engagement, the debate might escalate to questioning the necessity of the Emperor. He reiterated these views in interviews with the Mainichi Shimbun in January 2006 and Bungeishunjū in February 2006. In the latter, he speculated that the rumors about Emperor Akihito's implicit approval of female succession or primogeniture were "unfounded speculation," arguing that the Emperor, being so discreet, would not support such changes.

His views drew significant reactions. Hiroyuki Yoshikawa, chairman of Koizumi's advisory panel on the Imperial Household Law, initially argued that soliciting opinions from Imperial family members was unconstitutional and that the panel held the right to interpret the constitution. However, Prime Minister Koizumi later stated that Imperial family members were free to express their views and that it was not unconstitutional. Yoshikawa subsequently clarified that Prince Tomohito's views would not influence the panel's stance on female succession, which Koizumi supported. Yoshinobu Ishikawa, then Governor of Shizuoka Prefecture, publicly sympathized with Prince Tomohito's stance, criticizing the "hasty" nature of the succession debate and the perceived lack of experts in Imperial matters on the advisory panel. The Asahi Shimbun criticized Prince Tomohito's statements as "political" and a "deviation from the grand principle" of the symbolic Emperor system, urging him to refrain from such remarks. In response, the Sankei Shimbun, Weekly Bunshun, and Weekly Shincho criticized Asahi for attempting to suppress freedom of speech.

5.2. Statements on Imperial Family and Society

Prince Tomohito was known for his unconventional media appearances and frank comments. In 1975, he became the sole member of the Imperial Family to ever host a radio show, serving as a guest disc jockey on Nippon Broadcasting System's "All Night Nippon" from 1 AM for two hours. During "Tomo-san's All Night Nippon," he candidly discussed the Imperial family, his personal life, first love, and welfare issues, accompanied by Whisky on the rocks and music like The Beatles' "Hey Jude," which he enjoyed during his studies in the UK. His younger brother, Prince Norihito, later joked that his speech became slurred after 2 AM. During the broadcast, he provocatively stated that he liked his seventh position in the line of succession and "hoped Crown Princess Michiko (then) would not have any more sons." When asked by host Tetsuko Kuroyanagi about the Imperial Household Agency's reaction, he replied, "They probably just gave up on me." In 1981, he also served as a personality for "Asu o Akaruku: Happy Morning" on Nippon Cultural Broadcasting, focusing on disability welfare.

In an October 2007 interview with The New York Times, Prince Tomohito reminisced about his youth, stating that he commuted by Yamanote Line during his Gakushuin days and was sometimes "picked on" by students from Korean schools. He stated, "They would always attack us when they saw the Gakushuin uniform." In the same interview, he also addressed Crown Prince Naruhito's "personality denial" statement, revealing that he had sent a lengthy letter to Naruhito asking for clarification, but only received a polite reply. He commented that if his letter had been properly responded to, there might have been some progress. He also publicly acknowledged his struggle with alcoholism, remarking that the Imperial Household was "a lump of stress."

5.3. Public Criticism and Controversies

Prince Tomohito's frankness and unconventional behavior occasionally led to public scrutiny. In 1982, he caused a stir with his "imperial registry withdrawal" remark, expressing frustration with the many restrictions placed upon Imperial family members. He made a phone call to then-Grand Steward Tomohiko Tomita of the Imperial Household Agency, stating his desire to leave the Imperial Family. While Tomita acknowledged the call, he stated that official recognition of such a request was not possible under the Imperial Household Law, which stipulates that only in unavoidable special circumstances can a Prince, excluding the Crown Prince or Crown Prince's heir, leave the Imperial Family by resolution of the Imperial Household Council. After meeting with Tomita days later, despite having shaved his beard and appearing sober, Prince Tomohito reportedly reiterated his desire to leave. Although his withdrawal did not materialize, his uncle, Emperor Shōwa, commented in a press conference that he hoped the Prince would "fully grasp what the public expects of the Imperial Family and strive to meet those expectations."

In 1995, Prince Tomohito faced parliamentary scrutiny over allegations of "name lending" for activities related to Keirin and Kyōtei (boat racing), reportedly receiving nearly 10.00 M JPY annually in return. Then-Grand Steward Shōichi Fujimori of the Imperial Household Agency defended the Prince, explaining that the funds were intended for charitable donations rather than personal use by the princely house. In 2007, he publicly admitted his alcoholism, a rare and candid admission for an Imperial family member.

6.1. Long-term Illness and Treatment

From the 1990s, Prince Tomohito suffered from various health problems, including cancer and alcoholism. He underwent his first esophageal cancer surgery in January 1991. By 1995, he had undergone six cancer-related surgeries, including those for the base of his tongue, neck lymph nodes, and throat. He documented these experiences in his 1999 memoir, Gan o Kataru (Speaking of Cancer).

On September 16, 2006, he fractured his jaw after falling while washing his face, an injury exacerbated by his chemotherapy treatments. He also frequently entered and exited hospitals due to alcoholism, with his fifth hospitalization occurring on January 8, 2010. Even while hospitalized, he continued to attend official duties, maintaining his characteristic vigor and sharp wit, notably remarking in 2007, when the Imperial Household Agency initially sought to conceal his alcoholism, "I didn't want people to say, 'Is he sulking and not coming out?'"

In October 2007, he demonstrated a degree of recovery by granting an interview to an American magazine. However, a new diagnosis of laryngeal cancer led to another surgery in March 2008. Although efforts were made to preserve his voice, he developed pneumonia in April due to difficulty swallowing, necessitating re-hospitalization. During this time, a part of his throat was surgically closed, which blocked the air flow needed to vibrate his vocal cords, resulting in the permanent loss of his voice. Subsequently, he relied on an electrolarynx for communication during public appearances.

In August 2010, he was hospitalized for arrhythmia treatment. A regular check-up in September revealed a new throat cancer, leading to another endoscopic surgery on December 14. In February 2011, he was hospitalized for pneumonia. On July 8, 2011, he underwent surgery to remove cancer found in his oropharyngeal epithelium. This marked his 14th cancer-related surgery or treatment since 1991.

In January 2012, a tumor was found in his throat, and on January 10, he underwent a 7.5-hour surgery at the Sasaki Institute Kyoundo Hospital in Chiyoda, Tokyo, to remove the tumor and surrounding lymph nodes, along with a transplant procedure from his abdomen to repair the defect. Post-surgery, the medical team announced that his condition appeared to be a recurrence of throat cancer. In March, he underwent surgery to remove cartilage in his throat that was obstructing his ability to eat. By this point, he had undergone a total of 16 cancer surgeries or treatments since the initial diagnosis in January 1991.

6.2. Death and Funeral

In June 2012, it was revealed that Prince Tomohito had experienced two episodes of bleeding from his neck wound, requiring blood transfusions. On June 5, the Imperial Household Agency announced that his kidney, lung, and liver functions were deteriorating, and his consciousness level had declined. Prince Tomohito of Mikasa died at 3:35 PM on June 6, 2012, from multiple organ failure at the Sasaki Institute Kyoundo Hospital in Tokyo, at the age of 66. At the time of his death, he was sixth in the line of succession to the Chrysanthemum Throne.

His funeral, the "Renso no Gi," was held on June 14, 2012, at the Toshimagaoka Imperial Cemetery. His eldest daughter, Princess Akiko, served as chief mourner, a role traditionally held by the head of the household. Approximately 660 dignitaries and members of the public attended the service. Following the funeral, he was cremated at Ochiai Saijo and interred at Toshimagaoka Imperial Cemetery.

7.1. Daily Life and Hobbies

Beyond his official duties, Prince Tomohito had diverse interests and hobbies. He enjoyed sports, particularly skiing, and held positions in various sports organizations. He also actively pursued writing and lecturing, publishing several books of essays and his memoirs. His early days saw him breaking royal norms by hosting a radio show as a disc jockey.

7.2. Personality and Anecdotes

Prince Tomohito earned the popular nickname "Bearded Prince" (ヒゲの殿下_{Hige no Denka}^Japanese) due to his beard, a distinctive feature for a modern Japanese Imperial family member. His frank and approachable nature was evident in various anecdotes. For instance, the owner of a prestigious club in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, recounted that Prince Tomohito once said he had cleaned the "otōba" (a palace term for toilet) because it was dirty.

He and Princess Nobuko affectionately called each other "Nonchi" and "Tomo-san." It was Princess Nobuko who first noticed his esophageal cancer, and during his treatment, she meticulously prepared six different meals a day for him, having researched from doctors and nutritionists. Prince Tomohito was impressed, allowing her to publish a cookbook.

His strong character was also reflected in his interactions with his daughters. Princess Akiko recalled that her father never specifically praised her, even remarking that he did not fully understand her work. He did, however, advise her to "work harder than others because you are studying with taxpayer money." His younger daughter, Princess Yoko, described her father's personality as "excessively meticulous."

9.1. Titles and Official Nomenclature

Throughout his life, Prince Tomohito was formally designated "Tomohito Shin'nō" (Prince Tomohito) in official Imperial Household records and government notifications. Despite establishing his own independent household upon marriage, he was not granted his own princely house title, such as "Tomohito-no-miya," because he was considered the heir apparent to his father's Mikasa-no-miya house.

Media outlets often appended "Mikasa-no-miya" to his name (e.g., "Mikasa-no-miya Prince Tomohito") for clarity, to signify his belonging to the Mikasa princely house. However, this practice is not formally correct, as princely house titles are typically bestowed only upon the head of a house, not all its members. Prince Tomohito himself publicly corrected this common misconception, notably in the newsletter of the Japan Professional Ski Instructors Association, where he served as president, and in Hakuhōkai's newsletter Za Tod. He emphasized that he was "Prince Tomohito," not "Mikasa-no-miya," and that his eldest daughter, Princess Akiko, should be correctly referred to as "Her Imperial Highness Princess Akiko," not "Mikasa-no-miya Princess Akiko."

Historically, before 11 princely houses were removed from the Imperial registry in October 1947, it was common for princely houses to have un-titled heir princes or princes without their own households. These princes were sometimes referred to as "Wakamiya" (若宮_Wakamiya^Japanese, "Young Prince"), but this term is rarely used under the current constitution. Official government documents (such as Cabinet and Imperial Household Agency notifications) consistently referred to him as "Tomohito Shin'nō" (and "Tomohito Shin'nō Hi Nobuko" for his wife) without the "Mikasa-no-miya" prefix, aligning with the principle that princely titles are not applied to all Imperial family members except the Crown Prince.

9.2. National and Foreign Honors

Prince Tomohito received several high honors, both from Japan and from foreign nations:

• Grand Cordon of the Order of the Chrysanthemum (June 5, 1966)
• Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (March 9, 1982)

9.3. Honorary Degrees and Positions

He was also recognized for his academic contributions and leadership in various organizations:

• Honorary Doctor, Ankara University
• Honorary Visiting Professor, Suzuka International University
• President, Social Welfare Organization Yuai Jyuji Kai
• President, Arinomama-sha
• President, Social Welfare Organization Saiseikai Imperial Gift Foundation Inc.
• President, New Technology Development Foundation
• President, Princess Takamatsu Cancer Research Fund
• President, Nippon Billiard Association
• President, Professional Ski Instructors Association of Japan
• President, Collegiate Skating And Ice Hockey Federation
• President, Japan-Turkey Society
• President, Middle Eastern Culture Center in Japan
• Honorary President, Japan Rugby Football Union
• Honorary President, Japan-British Society
• Honorary President, Norway-Japan Society

10.1. Ancestry

Prince Tomohito's paternal ancestry traces back directly to the Emperors of Japan. He was the grandson of Emperor Taishō and Empress Teimei. His mother, Princess Mikasa, was the daughter of Viscount Masanari Takagi and Kuniko Irie, connecting him to the Takagi and Irie noble families.

His direct ancestral line is as follows:

His patrilineal descent is traditionally traced back to Emperor Jimmu, though clarity for periods prior to Emperor Keitai is less defined by modern historians. The unbroken male line from Emperor Keitai through Emperor Kōmei to Emperor Meiji and his successors forms the core of this lineage. Prince Tomohito's direct paternal line flows from Emperor Meiji to Emperor Taishō, then to his father Takahito, Prince Mikasa, and finally to himself.

10.2. Descendants

Prince Tomohito of Mikasa had two daughters:

• Princess Akiko of Mikasa, born December 20, 1981. She obtained a doctorate in art-related studies from Oxford University.
• Princess Yōko of Mikasa, born October 25, 1983.

As his princely house was dissolved after his death, his daughters and wife were integrated into the main Mikasa-no-miya house.