Kinyoshi Sanjo

Kimiyoshi Sanjō (さんじょう きみよし, formerly written in old characters as 三條公󠄁美; born May 8, 1875 (Meiji 8 April 21) – January 30, 1914 (Taishō 3 January 30)) was a nobleman and a duke member of the House of Peers during the late Meiji and Taishō periods. His former surname was Higashi Sanjō (東三条).

[Biography]

Kimiyoshi Sanjō was the son of Sanjō Sanetomi and his mother was Teruko (daughter of Takatsukasa Sukehiro). He was born as the second son. In 1882 (Meiji 15), he branched out and was recognized as a member of the kazoku (noble class). On July 8, 1884 (Meiji 17), he was granted the title of Baron, at which time he changed his surname to Higashi Sanjō. In August 1886 (Meiji 19), he reverted his surname back to Sanjō. Later that year, on October 16, 1886, following the disownment of his cousin Sanjō Kimitaka, he was reinstated into the Sanjō family.

Upon his father’s death, he inherited the title of duke on March 7, 1891 (Meiji 24). He became a member of the House of Peers as a duke on April 26, 1900 (Meiji 33), when he turned 25, and served in this position until his death.

Initially, his household’s finances were not very prosperous; by the time he inherited the dukedom, they had become so strained that maintaining a carriage was difficult. In response, Miyo Ozaki advocated to Yamagata Aritomo, who succeeded in securing 50,000 yen worth of government bonds from the Imperial Household Ministry, enabling the maintenance of the carriage. Subsequently, through Kimiyoshi’s frugality and the rising land prices of his estate, the Sanjō family's assets increased approximately fivefold by around 1907 (Meiji 40).

In 1914 (Taishō 3), he served as a reader at the "Utaga Goka Shihai no Mi Uketori," a ceremonial poetry event.

[Honors]

The following are the ranks he achieved:

- July 10, 1912 (Meiji 45) – Third rank in the court hierarchy (Sei-i Sangen)

- January 30, 1914 (Taishō 3) – Second rank (Junior Second Rank)

His noble titles are as follows:

- July 8, 1884 (Meiji 17) – Baron (Danshaku)

- March 7, 1891 (Meiji 24) – Duke (Koshaku, inherited)

[Family and Relatives]

His wife was Chiyoko Sanjō (daughter of Matsudaira Yoshinaga). His children include his eldest son, Sanjō Sanisuji; his eldest daughter, Kimi Ko Nishiguchi (wife of Hisamitsu Nariyuki); his second daughter, Tetsuko Nagai (wife of Naokuni Nagai); his second son, Sanjō Sanenori (a duke); and his third daughter, Yasuko Shimazu (wife of Tadateru Shimazu).

His siblings include Chie, the Princess Consort of Prince Jōin, Misa, wife of Sugihara Motoaki, Sanjō Koteru, and Munehira Kawahira.