HIH Prince Kaya Tsunenori | |
|---|---|
 HIH Prince Kaya Tsunenori | |
| Native name | 賀陽宮恒憲王 |
| Born | (1900-07-23)July 23, 1900 Tokyo,Japan |
| Died | January 3, 1978(1978-01-03) (aged 77) Chiba Prefecture, Japan |
| Allegiance | Empire of Japan |
| Service | Imperial Japanese Army |
| Years of service | 1920-1945 |
| Rank | Lieutenant General |
| Battles / wars | World War II |
Prince Kaya Tsunenori (賀陽宮恒憲王,Kaya no miya Tsunenori ō, July 23, 1900 – January 3, 1978), was the second head of the Kaya-no-miyacollateral branch of theJapanese imperial family. A general in theImperial Japanese Army, he was first cousin toEmpress Kōjun (Nagako), the wife ofEmperor Shōwa (Hirohito).
Prince Kaya Tsunenori was born inTokyo, the first son ofPrince Kaya Kuninori and his wife, the former Daigō Yoshiko. He received his primary and secondary education at the boys' department of theGakushuin Peers’ School. On December 8, 1909, he became the second head of the Kaya-no-miya house upon his father's death.
Like the other imperial princes of his generation, Prince Kaya was a career military officer. In 1920, after serving a term in theHouse of Peers, he graduated from the 32nd class of theImperial Japanese Army Academy and received a commission as alieutenant (2nd class) in thecavalry. In August 1925, he became commander of the Tenth Cavalry Regiment (at the rank of captain) and graduated from the 38th class ofArmy Staff College. The following year, he rose to the rank ofmajor in the cavalry, and was appointed an instructor at the Army Staff College the following year. He joined theImperial Japanese Army General Staff in 1933 and was promoted tocolonel two years later.
Prince and Princess Kaya undertook a seven-month world tour in 1934, visiting theUnited States,Great Britain,France, andGermany. The tour received extensive press coverage at the time.
After his return to Japan, he replaced his uncle,Prince Asaka Yasuhiko, as the emperor's personal envoy toNanking, the occupied capital ofNationalist China, following theNanjing Massacre in January 1938. He was promoted tomajor general in 1940 andlieutenant general in 1943 in command of theIJA 43rd Division. Prince Kaya became commander of theThird Imperial Guard Division in 1944 and briefly served as president of the Army Staff College during the closing stages ofWorld War II.
After October 14, 1947, Prince Kaya Tsunenori and his family were divested of their imperial status and become commoners due to theAmerican occupation authorities' reform of the Japanese imperial household. Barred from holding public office because of his military career, the former prince received a lump payment from the reconstitutedImperial Household Council in order to "maintain his dignity." The former prince later served on the boards of directors of the Taishō Life Insurance Company andNissan Mutual Life Insurance Company. He served as the honorary president of theInternational Martial Arts Federation from its founding in 1953 until 1965. The former prince was a noted fan and supporter ofJapanese baseball. In 1970, he founded a retirement home inNagano Prefecture.
The former prince died of a heart ailment on January 2, 1978, at his home inChiba Prefecture.
The former Kaya-no-miya palace is now the site of theChidorigafuchi National Cemetery in downtown Tokyo.
On May 3, 1921, Prince Kaya married Kujō Toshiko (May 16, 1903 – March 23, 1993), the third daughter of PrinceKujō Michizane, head of one of theFive regent houses of theFujiwara clan. His wife was also a niece ofEmpress Teimei, the consort of theEmperor Taishō. The couple had seven children:
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
