Michitaka Konoe

Michitaka Konoe (May 11, 1922 – February 11, 2012) was a Japanese historian. He served as a professor at the Historiographical Institute of the University of Tokyo, as chairman of the Kasayamakai, as chairman of the reconstruction committee for the Kodama Library, and as director-general of the Meirin Bunko.

According to information about his birth and family background, Michitaka Konoe was the second son of Fumimaro Konoe and the younger brother of Michitaka Konoe. He was also the nephew of Tadayukihiro Konoe. While attending Gakushuin Middle School, on October 12, 1935, he became an adopted son of his uncle, Hidemaro Konoe, and Yasuko (née Mōri).

Regarding his education, he enrolled at the University of Tokyo (then Tokyo Imperial University). His studies were temporarily interrupted due to a student mobilization during wartime, but he resumed his studies in October 1945. He frequently gave interviews concerning his father, Fumimaro Konoe, especially describing the situation before his father's suicide attempt by cyanide poisoning.

In his career, he joined the Historiographical Institute of the University of Tokyo in 1951. He was promoted from assistant (1962) to associate professor (1969), then to full professor (1981), and retired in 1983. He devoted himself to organizing and researching Japanese historical documents, working alongside Hakuto Nasu and Yorishige Matsudaira, among others.

In his personal life, he was also known as a skilled golfer. During his time at the University of Tokyo, he served as the head of the golf club and was also the champion of the Kanto Amateur Golf Championship. He held positions such as president of the Japan Golf Association, chairman of the Tokyo Golf Club, and honorific chairman of the Japan Student Golf Federation.

Regarding his golfing episodes, he mentioned that he did not learn to play from his parents but started gripping a club during summer vacations spent in Karuizawa, where he acquired basic technical skills himself.

He passed away suddenly from acute heart failure at the age of 89 on February 11, 2012.

Concerning his lineage, the Konoe family traces back to Minamoto no Motofusa, the ancestor of Fujiwara no Tadachika, and was one of the five regent houses (Gosekke). In relation to the Imperial family, he was a thirteen-generation male-line descendant of Emperor Go-Yōzei, specifically from his fourth son, Prince Nobuhisa Konoe.

Other related topics include Ogigaiso.

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