Norihiko Nashimoto

Nashimoto Norihiko (born November 19, 1922 – died February 7, 2007) was a Japanese member of the Imperial family, a noble, and a naval officer. He descended from the Imperial family of Nashimoto, a branch of the former royal family of the Meiji era. His noble rank was count (hakushaku), his court rank was Junior Fourth Rank (Jūyon-i), and his medal was First Class of the Order of the Sacred Treasure. His final military rank was Captain in the Navy, and his personal emblem was a phoenix.

Birth and Imperial Family Period

He was born on November 19, 1922, in Kyoto Prefecture as the third son of Prince Takara and Princess Shizuko. During his childhood, he attended Kyoto First Junior High School in Kyoto Prefecture. He graduated from the Imperial Japanese Naval Academy in 1942 (the 17th year of Showa), with classmates including Minoru Nomura. On the same day, November 19, 1942, he became a member of the Imperial Household Court.

Military Service and Disenfranchisement

He was deployed in January 1943 during World War II aboard the battleship Yamato. On April 2 of the same year, he received the First Class of the Order of the Sacred Treasure with Paulownia Flowers, marking his coming of age. On June 1, 1943, he was commissioned as a First Lieutenant in the Imperial Japanese Navy. Shortly thereafter, on June 7, under the supplement to Article 1 of the former Imperial House Law, he voluntarily converted to commoner status (shinkō), founding the Tatsu Count family (Ryūta). He temporarily lost his status as an Imperial Court member at that time. The family name "Ryūta" is derived from the Ryūta Shrine in Ōmi Province, which is historically connected to the Kuni-no-miya family’s former domain.

Post-Disenfranchisement and Personal Life

After the war, on April 22, 1945, he was adopted by Princess Itsuko Nashimoto, consort of the Nashimoto-no-miya, and inherited family rites of the Nashimoto family. At the time of Japan’s surrender in 1945, he held the rank of Navy Captain. After the war, he worked for Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. (Panasonic) and Tokyo Maru (now Parco) as a laborer. During his time at Panasonic, he was featured in newsreels as a "working noble," though he also expressed discomfort over the use of his noble status for personal advantage.

Adoption and Family Relationships

In 1966 (Showa 41), at the request of Princess Itsuko Nashimoto, he was adopted into the Nashimoto-no-miya family, inheriting its family rites. He was divorced in 1980 (Showa 55) from his wife, Masako. In his later years, he served as the president of the "Phoenix Society," an organization named after his personal emblem.

Later Years and Activities

In his later years, he served as Honorary President of the Japan Cultural Promotion Society and engaged in business activities employing the Nashimoto family name. These activities included soliciting donations from awardees and promoting fraudulent investments, leading to several legal issues. In 2004 and 2005, the nonprofit organization Yamabiko Society, which solicited investments for a furnace sales business, was accused of fraud, resulting in the arrest of four individuals, including the representative. In 2006, he was involved as the honorary president of a group promoting the donation of funds for rebuilding lanterns at Ise Jingu Shrine.

Death

He died on February 7, 2007, at the age of 84. His death marked the end of the Nashimoto family line.

Other

His decorations during the imperial era include those awarded during the celebration of the 2,600th anniversary of Japan, on August 15, 1940.