Michizane Kujo

Michizane Kujō (formerly Kujō Michizane, using the old character style: 九條 道󠄁實; born January 16, 1870 [December 15, Meiji 2] – January 19, 1933 [Showa 8]) was a Japanese courtier, politician, and noble. He served as a duke member of the House of Peers.

Life

He was born as the eldest son of the Lord Chamberlain, Kujō Michitaka. In 1889 (Meiji 22), he studied abroad in Britain. Upon his father’s death, he inherited the title of duke on January 23, 1906 (Meiji 39) and became a member of the House of Peers representing the Dukes, belonging to the Tuesday Society, served in this position for life.

He fulfilled duties related to court ceremonies and official positions as a courtier. On January 1, 1908 (Meiji 41), he was made a designated official in the Imperial Court, assigned the rank of Fourth Class Senior Official (Sōnin-kan), and received an annual stipend of 900 yen. At the same time, he was appointed to the position of Assistant Director of the Imperial Protocol.

On December 25, 1909 (Meiji 42), he was promoted to Assistant Director of the Imperial Protocol and raised to the third rank of senior officials. The following day, December 26, he received a second-class salary.

On September 21, 1912 (Taisho 1), he was transferred to the position of Chamberlain, and on November 8, he was appointed head of the Imperial Household Agency’s Ritual Department.

On July 30, 1913, during the first anniversary ceremony of Emperor Meiji, he performed the ritual as the officiating priest. The ceremony ended on July 31, and with the abolition of the ritual official positions, he was awarded a gift along with others who served as ritual officials. On August 9, he resumed the position of head ritual officiant.

On January 17, 1914, he was sent as a divine envoy (Shinpu-shi) as a messenger to the Meiji Shrine Imperial Festival, receiving the imperial command to solemnly perform the ritual.

On December 27, 1915, he was promoted to Chief Ritual Official (Shōten).

On November 1, 1920, during the dedication of the spirits of Emperor Meiji and Empress Shōken at Meiji Shrine, he attended as an imperial envoy. On December 20 of the same year, he was summoned by Emperor Taisho and received a meal.

On December 14, 1924, he was granted the status of an appointive courtier (Shin-in-kan).

In October 1929, he participated as an imperial envoy in the 58th Ise Shrine Gongen-sai Festival.

He died on January 19, 1933, three days after his sister, Empress Teimei, visited the Kujō residence in Akasaka, Tokyo, on January 16. His funeral was held on the 24th of the same month, with Imperial Envoy Kanroji Juunaga, commandant of the Imperial Household and official of the Empress’s Court, Okinaga Eiji, and court official Seizan Seikan of the Empress Dowager’s Court dispatched as representatives, and offerings of sacred branches were made.

Honors

Ranks:

- Junior Fifth Rank: unrecorded

- Fifth Rank: unrecorded

- Fourth Rank: June 30, 1894

- Third Fourth Rank: July 3, 1897

- Third Rank: January 31, 1906

- Second Fourth Rank: February 10, 1912

- Third Rank: February 20, 1919

- Second Rank: March 1, 1927

- First Rank: January 19, 1933

Peerage:

- Inherited the title of Duke on January 23, 1906

Imperial Decorations:

Details of awarded medals are not documented.

Family Lineage

His father was Kujō Michitaka. His mother was Iko Noma. Siblings include Kujō Yoshimasa, Kujō Yoshitane, and Kujō Yoshitsugu. His sisters include Princess Kikuko (Princess Takamatsu), Otani Chūko, Empress Teimei, Shibuya Hiroko, and Otani Enko. His nephew was the 124th Emperor Showa (Hirohito), and his great-nephew was the 125th Emperor Akihito.

His wife was Kujō Keiko (1876–1956), the second daughter of Otani Kōmei. Their children include eldest daughter Kaneko Satake (1894–1964), eldest son Michihide Kujō (1895–1961), second daughter Toyoko Nakayama (1899–1985), fourth daughter Atsuko Ooka (1901–1985), fifth daughter Toshiko Kachō (1903–1995), and sixth daughter Higashikubo Akiko (1906–1984).