Iehiko Uji

Uji Iehiko (Uji Iehiko, March 17, 1920 – October 24, 2008) was a Japanese nobleman, member of the Imperial family, and naval officer (Imperial family military personnel). His rank was Lieutenant Commander in the Navy. He was the second son of Takahiro, Prince Taka, and his consort Princess Shizuko. In 1942 (Showa 17), he was demoted from imperial status and became the head of the Uji Baronial family.

Born at 5:35 PM on March 17, 1920 (Taisho 9), he was the second son of the Takahiro, Prince Taka of the Kuni-no-miya family, and Princess Shizuko. At the third night after his birth, on March 23, he was named "Iehiko." His elder brother, Prince Miyo, was deceased early, so he was raised as the effectively the eldest son. He lost his father, Prince Taka, in 1937 (Showa 12). Although Prince Taka was independent of the main Kuni no miya family, he was not granted a prince title, so Iehiko did not inherit the headship of a princely house.

His educational background includes Kyoto Prefectural Kyoto Daiichi Junior High School and Third High School, Science Course II. In 1940 (Showa 15), he entered the Department of Physics at Kyoto Imperial University. He reached adulthood on March 17, 1940, and became a member of the House of Peers of the Imperial Diet the same year. His coming-of-age ceremony was held on October 19, 1940, and on that day he was awarded the Order of the Rising Sun with Paulownia Flowers, First Class. Due to the shortened university course length amid preparations for conscription, he graduated early and, in 1942 (Showa 17), was commissioned into the Navy as part of the 32nd Class of Technical Officers.

The 32nd Class comprised over 1,000 recruits. Since suitable training facilities did not exist on the Japanese mainland, initial officer training was conducted mainly in Shandong Peninsula, China, centered around Qingdao. He is one of the rare examples of a member of the Imperial family entering the military without attending a military school. On October 5 of the same year, he was allowed to renounce his imperial status through a petition, was granted the family name "Uji," was elevated to the rank of Count (Hakushaku), and lost his membership of the House of Peers.

In January 1943 (Showa 18), he was promoted to Lieutenant in the Navy, and was assigned to the Electrical Research Department of the Naval Technical Research Institute alongside Koichi Yamasaki. At the end of World War II, his rank was Lieutenant Commander in the Navy. After the war, he worked as a research associate at the Department of Physics, Kyoto University, where he had previously studied.

His hobbies include agriculture, gardening, mountain climbing, and skiing. He received the Chrysanthemum Order of the Rising Sun, Second Class, in August 1940, and the First Class of the Order of the Rising Sun with Paulownia Flowers in October 1940, commemorating the 2600th anniversary of the Imperial era.

His paternal lineage is from Prince Taka (Kuni-no-miya family), and his mother was Princess Shizuko, wife of Prince Taka. His siblings include Princess Hatsuko, Princess Kōko, Prince Yuki, Princess Kuno, also known as Kuno Princess, and younger sister Norihiko, also known as Prince Norihiko. His wife was the second daughter of Takatsukasa Shinsuke, her name was Tadasu. His children include Uji Yoshihiko (born August 13, 1946) and Uji Kan (born December 17, 1947).

Details about his family tree and genealogical records are documented in specific sources. A notable reference is Yasuzō Nakagawa’s book “The Naval Technical Research Institute: Pioneers of Electronics in the Kingdom” (Kōjinsha, 1997).