Kunihisa Kuni

Kuni Kunihisa (March 10, 1902 – March 4, 1935) was a Japanese noble and Army military officer. He held the rank of Captain in the Army Infantry and held the peerage title of Marquis. He was the second prince of Kuni Prince Kunihiko, and the brother of Empress Kōjun (Shōjun) (his older brother). Additionally, he was the uncle of Emperor Akihito (the 125th Emperor) and the great-uncle of Emperor Naruhito (the 126th Emperor).

Regarding his birth and family background, his father was Prince Kunihiko of Kuni, and his mother was Shimazu Tae. His brothers included Prince Asayu and Prince Kunihisa, and his sisters included Empress Kōjun, Princess Nobuko (daughter of Sanjō Nishi Nobuko), Princess Tomiko (Otani Tomiko), and Prince Fushimi-no-miya Kuniwa (also known as Prince Kunihisa).

As for his education, he first completed the Elementary School of Gakushuin, then enrolled at the Gakushuin Middle School. In April 1918, at age 17, he entered the Tokyo Metropolitan First Middle School (now Hibiya High School). On December 1, 1920, while in the fourth year at the Metropolitan First Middle School, he joined the Guards Infantry Regiment as a cadet in accordance with imperial tradition.

Regarding his military service, he entered the Imperial Japanese Army Officers' School on October 1, 1921, and graduated in 1923 (35th term). Among his classmates were Army Colonels Makutani Makoto, Arao Okugo, and Ishikawa Jin. After graduation, he engaged in military duties.

In terms of political and imperial roles, records indicate that he was appointed as a member of the House of Peers (Dajōkan) on March 10, 1922. He graduated from the Imperial Army Officers' School in 1923, and on October 25 of the same year, he was demoted from the imperial family and resigned as a member of the House of Peers, receiving the peerage of Marquis. He was granted the family name "Kuni" and was promoted to the Fourth Rank Junior Officer.

Later, on March 9, 1932, when he turned 30, he became a Marquis member of the House of Peers. He died on March 4, 1935, due to a cerebral hemorrhage while in the bath.

Regarding marriage, his first marriage was to Atsuyo, a daughter of Duke Tadayoshi Shimazu, but they later divorced. Subsequently, he remarried to Tokuko, the second daughter of Viscount Yasuo Matsuura. They did not have children. After his death, the Kuni family was succeeded by Morihide, the second son of Princess Nobuko Shinjō, who was adopted into the family. Morihide later married Miki Tōgō, the eldest daughter of Baron Shigeru Tōgō.

This summary records the major details of Kunihisa Kuni's family relationships and key life events.

【Main References】

"Directory of the House of Peers (Part C)," Revised December 1947, House of Peers Secretariat, 1947

"100 Years of Parliamentary System - Directory of House of Peers and House of Representatives Members," Ministry of Finance Printing Bureau, 1990

【External Link】

Photograph Album of the Kuni Family