Prince Tomohito of Mikasa
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Prince Tomohito of Mikasa (三笠宮寬仁 Mikasa no miya Tomohito shinnō, born January 5, 1946), is a member of the Japanese Imperial Family and the eldest son of the current HIH Prince Mikasa and HIH Princess Mikasa Yuriko, He is a first cousin of Emperor Akihito, and is the heir apparent to the princely house of Mikasa-no-miya. Prince Tomohito is the first member of the Japanese Imperial Family to sport a full beard since Emperor Meiji, thus earning him the popular nickname of the “bearded prince” (ヒゲの殿下 Hige-no-denka). [1]
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[edit] Biography
[edit] Education
Prince Tomohito graduated from the Department of Political Studies in the Faculty of Law of Gakushuin University in 1968. From 1968 - 1970, he studied at Magdalen College, University of Oxford, in the United Kingdom.
[edit] Marriage and family
The Prince met and became engaged to Ms. Nobuko Aso on May 21, 1980. She is the third daughter of the late Mr. Takakichi Aso, chairman of Aso Cement Co., and his wife, Kazuko, the daughter of former Prime Minister Shigeru Yoshida and the sister of current Prime Minister Tarō Asō. The couple married on November 7, 1980. Ms. Aso was given the title HIH Princess Tomohito of Mikasa. The Prince and Princess have two daughters:
- Princess Akiko (彬子女王 Akiko-joō, born December 20, 1981)
- Princess Yōko (瑶子女王 Yōko joō, born October 25, 1983)
The family lives in a compound within the Akasaka Palace complex, in Azabu Minato, Tokyo. [2]
[edit] Public service
For the 1972 Sapporo Winter Olympics, Prince Tomohito served as a committee member on the organizing committee from 1970 - 1972. He was also on the committee for the 1975 Okinawa World Fair.
Prince Tomohito is president and honorary president of various organizations that concern themselves with cancer research (the Princess Takamatsu Cancer Research Fund), having himself suffered from the disease from 2003, youth education and promotion of international relations. He is also noted for his support of organizations which promote the welfare of people with physical or mental disabilities through sporting activities, such as ski, bowling, dancing and rugby). He travels extensively abroad with the princess on charity and support missions that concern matters of illness and welfare. The Prince often gives lectures and contributes articles to national newspapers and magazines, and has also authored seven books.
In December 1992, the Prince and Princess visited the United States to support a newly established cancer ward in the New York Medical College, and in 1994, visited Hawaii to support the reconstruction of Kuakini Hospital. In February 1994, the Prince and Princess visited Norway to attend the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, Norway.
In April 1998, the Prince and Princess visited Turkey to attend the opening ceremony of the Turkey-Japan Foundation Cultural Centre. They had previously visited Turkey in 1990 as part of the celebrations for the 100th anniversary of Japan-Turkey relations. The Prince strongly supported the establishment of a Japanese Institute of Anatolian Archaeology at the Middle Eastern Culture Center in Japan, and returned to Turkey again in October 2002, June 2003 and October 2003 leading three groups of benefactors on tours of the heritage of Turkey. In June 1998, Prince Tomohito visited Australia for fundraising activities for a medical science foundation to commemorate the Australian Nobel prize winner Dr. Howard Walter Florey. In December of the same year, he visited Thailand to attend the 13th Asian Games.
| Styles of Prince Tomohito of Mikasa |
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| Reference style | His Imperial Highness |
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| Spoken style | Your Imperial Highness |
| Alternative style | Sir |
In April 2003, Prince Tomohito visited Norway accompanied by his daughter, Princess Akiko to attend the World Cross Country Ski Championships for the Visually Disabled. The Prince has continued to suffer health problems relating to his cancer. In September 2006, he fractured his jaw, which had been weakened by chemotherapy for cancer in his larynx. In 2007, the Prince made a public announcement that he was suffering from alcoholism, and was undergoing treatments at the Imperial Household Agency hospital.[3] In March 2008, he underwent surgery for cancer in his pharynx.[4] Although attempts were made to save his voice, he subsequently suffered from pneumonia caused by his inability to properly swallow food, and currently can speak only with a mechanical larynx.
[edit] Honorary positions
- President of the Social Welfare Organization Yuai Jyuji Kai
- President of the Arinomama-sha
- President of the Imperial Gift Foundation
- President of the New Technology Development Foundation
- President of the Princess Takamatsu Cancer Research Fund
- President of the Nippon Billiard Association
- President of the Professional Ski Instructors Association of Japan
- President of the Collegiate Skating And Ice Hockey Federation
- Honorary President of the Japan Rugby Football Union
- Honorary President of the Japan-British Society
- Honorary President of the Norway-Japan Society
[edit] External links
[edit] Notes
- ^ [1] New York Times, October 20, 2007
- ^ http://www.japannewsreview.com/society/kanto/20080314page_id=4116 Wikimap of Akasaka Estate
- ^ [ http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/06/22/asia/AS-GEN-Japan-Alcoholic-Prince.php] Herald Tribune, June 22, 2007
- ^ [2] Japan News Review March 14 2008
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Prince Tomohito of Mikasa
Born: 28 November 1935 |
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| Japanese royalty | ||
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| Preceded by Prince Mikasa |
Line of succession to the Japanese throne 6th position |
Succeeded by Prince Katsura |
