Takatsukasa Nobuhiro

Takasuka Nobuhiro (January 7, 1892 – January 15, 1981) was a Japanese Army officer and a member of the kazoku (nobility), holding the rank of Colonel in the Imperial Japanese Army. He belonged to the title of Baron and was listed as part of the noble lineage.

He was born in Tokyo as the second son of Duke Takatsuka Kinmichi. In December 1905 (Meiji 38), he branched off into his own line and was granted the rank of Baron. His educational background includes completing the preparatory and main courses at the Army Central Juvenile School, and in 1912 (Meiji 45), he graduated from the Army Officer School (24th class). In the same year in December, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant of Artillery and assigned to the Imperial Guard Field Artillery Regiment.

Later, he completed the Advanced Course at the Army Artillery School in December 1915 (Taisho 4), and in July 1921 (Taisho 10), he became a company commander in the Imperial Guard Field Artillery Regiment. He served as an instructor at the Army Officer School and was promoted to Major of Artillery in August 1928 (Showa 3). In August 1929 (Showa 4), he was assigned to the 8th Field Heavy Artillery Regiment. Afterwards, he held positions such as battalion commander of the Imperial Guard Field Artillery Regiment and instructor at the Artillery School.

In August 1933 (Showa 8), he was appointed as a military attaché to the Imperial family, serving as an aide to Prince Kitashirakawa Naruhisa. He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel of Artillery in August 1934 (Showa 9). In August 1936, he became an instructor at the Army Field Artillery School, and in December 1937 (Showa 12), he was appointed regimental commander of the 7th Field Heavy Artillery Regiment.

He was promoted to Colonel of Artillery in March 1939 (Showa 14) and participated in the Nomonhan Incident as the commander of the 7th Regiment of Field Heavy Artillery within the 1st Division. It is said that he was the only surviving regiment commander who was unharmed during the event. After the incident, on September 30 of the same year, he was suspended from duty and his honorific title of Baron was revoked. By December, he was assigned to the reserve list with an official admonition.

In 1944 (Showa 19), near the end of World War II, he was recalled to service and served as an inspector at Nagoya Army Arsenal. After the war, he was purged from public office but was reinstated in 1951.

In terms of family, his grandfather Kujo Naochika, his uncle Kujo Michitaka, and his mother Takatsuka Junko all had血縁 ties to either the noble family or the imperial family. His wife was the daughter of Takamune Mitsui. His children include his eldest son Takatsuka Nobuharu (who died young), his second son Takatsuka Nobukane (an Army Captain), his third son Takatsuka Nobumichi (auditor at Toyota Tsusho), and his fourth son Takatsuka Nobamasa (who also died young), among others.

【References】

Tatsuyoshi Sato, 『Gatekeepers: The Resurgence of the Former Nobility』, Risufū Shobō, 1987.

Ikihiko Hata (editor), 『Encyclopedia of Japan’s Army and Navy』, 2nd edition, University of Tokyo Press, 2005.