Norihito, Prince Takamado

Norihito, Prince Takamado (高円宮憲仁親王, Takamado-no-miya Norihito Shinnō), was born on December 29, 1954, and died on November 21, 2002. He was a member of the Imperial House of Japan, the third son of Takahito, Prince Mikasa, and Yuriko, Princess Mikasa. He was a first cousin of Emperor Akihito and was seventh in line to the Chrysanthemum Throne at the time of his death.

He was born in Tokyo at Prince Mikasa's family residence. Prince Takamado graduated from Gakushuin University in 1978, where he studied in the Department of Law. Between 1978 and 1981, he studied abroad at Queen’s University Faculty of Law in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Upon his return to Japan, he served as an administrator of the Japan Foundation from 1981 until 2002.

On September 17, 1984, he became engaged to Hisako Tottori, the eldest daughter of Shigejirō Tottori. The engagement began after he met her at a reception hosted by the Canadian Embassy in Tokyo. The couple married on December 6, 1984. Subsequently, he received the title Prince Takamado (Takamado-no-miya) and authorization to establish a new branch of the Imperial Family on December 1, 1984.

Prince Takamado and Princess Hisako had three daughters: Princess Tsuguko, born March 8, 1986, at Aiiku Hospital in Tokyo; Princess Noriko, born July 22, 1988, at Aiiku Hospital; and Princess Ayako, born September 15, 1990, at Aiiku Hospital. Following their marriages to commoners—Princess Noriko to Kunimaro Senge on October 5, 2014, and Princess Ayako to Moriya Kei on October 29, 2018—both princesses relinquished their imperial titles and left the Imperial Family, as mandated by the 1947 Imperial Household Law, adopting their husbands' surnames.

Princess Ayako, in 2019, was reported to be expecting her first child, and she subsequently gave birth to a son, Jō Moriya, on November 17, 2019. She announced her second pregnancy in 2022, and on September 1, 2022, she gave birth to her second son. On May 10, 2024, she gave birth to her third son, with the name not publicly disclosed.

Prince Takamado was actively involved in public service, holding honorary presidencies of various organizations promoting international exchange, music, dance, and sports. He was known as "The Sports Prince" in Japan and supported numerous foreign language speech contests. His interests included environmental issues and education. He was an honorary member of AV Edo-Rhenania zu Tokio, a Roman Catholic student fraternity.

Together with Princess Hisako, he traveled extensively, visiting 35 countries over 15 years. His notable visits included Egypt, Morocco, Hawaii, and South Korea. His trip to Korea in 2002 was the first official Japanese imperial visit there since World War II, intended to promote bilateral relations. During this visit, the couple met with President Kim Dae-jung and engaged with ordinary Koreans.

On November 21, 2002, while participating in a squash lesson with Canadian ambassador Robert G. Wright at the Canadian Embassy in Tokyo, Prince Takamado collapsed from ventricular fibrillation. He was rushed to Keio University Hospital, where he was declared dead at age 47. His death was a significant event in Japan, leading to his funeral at Toshimagaoka Imperial Cemetery in Tokyo, attended by approximately 900 individuals, including members of the Imperial Family and foreign dignitaries.

The Prince Takamado Cup, Japan’s national youth football tournament, is named in his honor. The collection of Japanese art and artifacts at the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto is also named the Prince Takamado Gallery of Japan, reflecting his connection with Canada.

He held various honors, including the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Chrysanthemum received on December 29, 1974. His foreign honors included the Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic, awarded on March 9, 1982, and the Nersornaat Medal for Meritorious Service, 1st Class, from Greenland.

He held honorary positions such as President of the Japan Football Association, Japan Fencing Association, Japan Squash Association, and the Federation of All Japan Baseball, among others. His ancestry is rooted in the Japanese imperial patrilineal line.