Nobuhiko Higashikuni

Nobuhiko Higashikuni (東久邇 信彦, Higashikuni Nobuhiko) was born on March 10, 1945, and died on March 20, 2019. He was a Japanese aristocrat and former Imperial prince. He was the first grandchild of Emperor Hirohito, being the eldest son of Shigeko, Princess Teru, who was the eldest daughter of Emperor Hirohito. Consequently, he was a maternal nephew of Emperor Emeritus Akihito and a cousin of Emperor Naruhito. His father was Morihiro Higashikuni, a grandson of Emperor Meiji.

Nobuhiko Higashikuni was born during World War II in a shelter home in Tokyo amid an air raid. His parents were Prince Morihiro Higashikuni and Shigeko, Princess Teru. After leaving the Imperial Palace, he pursued higher education at Keio University Law School. Following his studies, he was employed at Mitsui Bank.

Throughout his life, Higashikuni held several positions in various organizations. He was a member of the Thai Association of Japan, later advancing to roles such as executive director, managing director, and Kakari member within the organization. In June 2008, he assumed the honorary presidency of the All Japan Baseball Conference. The following year, in July 2009, he became an honorary adviser to the Japan-US Friendship Bridge Executive Committee. His other roles included Honorary Chairman of the Society "Togo Association" and Honorary President of the Association to Protect Japanese Tradition.

In June 1972, Nobuhiko Higashikuni married Yoshiko Shimada, a member of a commoner family involved in real estate management in Yokohama. The Shimada family managed apartments and parking lots. The marriage received approval from Emperor Hirohito, who appreciated Shimada's simple appearance. The couple had one son, Masahiko, born in 1973.

As a member of the Imperial family and closely related to senior members, Higashikuni's existence and that of his son, Masahiko, have been referenced in discussions concerning the Japanese imperial succession, particularly due to the limited number of male heirs before 2006.