Oke
Encyclopedia
The , were branches of the Japanese Imperial Family
created from branches of the Fushimi-no-miya
house. All but one of the ōke were formed by the descendants of Prince Fushimi Kuniye
. The ōke were stripped of their membership in the Imperial Family by the American Occupation Authorities
in October 1947, as part of the abolition of collateral imperial houses. After that point, only the immediate family of Hirohito and those of his three brothers retained membership in the Imperial Family. However, unofficial heads of these collateral families still exist for most and are listed herein.
The ōke were, in order of founding:
Unless otherwise stated, all princes listed herein are the sons of their predecessor.
)
}|| 1929 || 1959 || . || . ||
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.
The Yamashina-no-miya became extinct with the death of Yamashina Takehiko.
.
The Kwacho-no-miya became extinct with the death of Prince Kwacho Hirotada. The line of descent was continued through the kazoku
peerage under Kwacho Hironobu.
.
In 1931, Emperor Hirohito directed his brother-in-law, Prince Kuni Kunihide, to leave Imperial Family status and become Count
Higashifushimi Kunihide (hakushaku under the kazoku
peerage system), to prevent the Higashifushimi name from extinction. Dowager Princess Higashifushimi Kaneko became a commoner on 14 October 1947. She died in Tokyo
in 1955.
(first Kuni-no-miya, see above)
.
.
Prince Higashikuni Nobuhiko became simply "Higashikuni Nobuhiko" after the abolition of the Japanese aristocracy during the American occupation of Japan in 1946.
(second Kitashirakawa-no-miya).
Imperial House of Japan
The , also referred to as the Imperial Family or the Yamato Dynasty, comprises those members of the extended family of the reigning Emperor of Japan who undertake official and public duties. Under the present Constitution of Japan, the emperor is the symbol of the state and unity of the people...
created from branches of the Fushimi-no-miya
Fushimi-no-miya
The ' is the oldest of the four shinnōke, branches of the Imperial Family of Japan which were eligible to succeed to the Chrysanthemum Throne in the event that the main line should die out....
house. All but one of the ōke were formed by the descendants of Prince Fushimi Kuniye
Prince Fushimi Kuniye
was a Japanese minor royal, he was the 20th prince Fushimi-no-miya 1817/1848, married and had issue, at least 17 sons and 4 daughters....
. The ōke were stripped of their membership in the Imperial Family by the American Occupation Authorities
Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers
Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers was the title held by General Douglas MacArthur during the Occupation of Japan following World War II...
in October 1947, as part of the abolition of collateral imperial houses. After that point, only the immediate family of Hirohito and those of his three brothers retained membership in the Imperial Family. However, unofficial heads of these collateral families still exist for most and are listed herein.
The ōke were, in order of founding:
- 梨本 Nashimoto
- 久邇 Kuni
- 山階 Yamashina (extinct)
- 華頂 Kachō or Kwachō (extinct)
- 北白川 Kitashirakawa
- 東伏見 Higashifushimi or Komatsu (小松) (extinct)
- 賀陽 Kaya
- 朝香 Asaka
- 東久邇 Higashikuni
- 竹田 Takeda
Unless otherwise stated, all princes listed herein are the sons of their predecessor.
Nashimoto-no-miya
The Nashimoto-no-miya house was formed by Prince Moriosa, son of Prince Fushimi Sadayoshi (father of Prince Fushimi KuniyePrince Fushimi Kuniye
was a Japanese minor royal, he was the 20th prince Fushimi-no-miya 1817/1848, married and had issue, at least 17 sons and 4 daughters....
)
| Name | Born | Succeeded | Retired | Died | Notes | |
| 1 | 1819 | 1870 | . | 1885 | ||
| 2 | 1873 | 1885 | 1885 | 1908 | grand-nephew of Moriosa; resigned to return to the Yamashina household | |
| 3 | 1874 | 1885 | 1947 | 1951 | cousin of Kikumaro and fourth son of Kuni-no-miya Asahiko | |
Kuni-no-miya
The Kuni-no-miya house was formed by Prince Asahiko, fourth son of Prince Fushimi KuniyePrince Fushimi Kuniye
was a Japanese minor royal, he was the 20th prince Fushimi-no-miya 1817/1848, married and had issue, at least 17 sons and 4 daughters....
| Name | Born | Succeeded | Retired | Died | Notes | |
| 1 | 1824 | 1863 | . | 1891 | became shinnō in 1871 | |
| 2 | 1873 | 1891 | . | 1929 | father of Empress Kojun | |
| 3 | 1901 | 1929 | 1947 | 1959 | ||
| 4 |
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Yamashina-no-miya
The Yamashina-no-miya house was formed by Prince Akira, eldest son of Prince Fushimi KuniyePrince Fushimi Kuniye
was a Japanese minor royal, he was the 20th prince Fushimi-no-miya 1817/1848, married and had issue, at least 17 sons and 4 daughters....
.
| Name | Born | Succeeded | Retired | Died | ||
| 1 | 1816 | 1864 | . | 1898 | ||
| 2 | 1873 | 1898 | . | 1908 | ||
| 3 | 1898 | 1908 | 1947 | 1987 | ||
The Yamashina-no-miya became extinct with the death of Yamashina Takehiko.
Kwachō-no-miya
The Kwachō-no-miya (or Kachō-no-miya) house was formed by Prince Hirotsune, son of Prince Fushimi KuniyePrince Fushimi Kuniye
was a Japanese minor royal, he was the 20th prince Fushimi-no-miya 1817/1848, married and had issue, at least 17 sons and 4 daughters....
.
| Name | Born | Succeeded | Retired | Died | ||
| 1 | 1851 | 1868 | . | 1876 | ||
| 2 | 1875 | 1876 | . | 1883 | ||
| 3 | 1875 | 1883 | 1904 | 1946 | ||
| 4 | 1902 | 1904 | . | 1924 | ||
| X | 1905 | 1924 | 1947 | 1970 | ||
The Kwacho-no-miya became extinct with the death of Prince Kwacho Hirotada. The line of descent was continued through the kazoku
Kazoku
The was the hereditary peerage of the Empire of Japan that existed between 1869 and 1947.-Origins:Following the Meiji Restoration of 1868, the ancient court nobility of Kyoto regained some of its lost status...
peerage under Kwacho Hironobu.
Kitashirakawa-no-miya
The Kitashirakawa-no-miya house was formed by Prince Toshinari, eighth son of Prince Fushimi KuniyePrince Fushimi Kuniye
was a Japanese minor royal, he was the 20th prince Fushimi-no-miya 1817/1848, married and had issue, at least 17 sons and 4 daughters....
| Name | Born | Succeeded | Retired | Died | Notes | |
| 1 | 1844 | 1872 | . | 1872 | ||
| 2 | 1847 | 1872 | . | 1895 | brother of above | |
| 3 | 1887 | 1895 | . | 1923 | ||
| 4 | 1910 | 1923 | . | 1940 | ||
| 4 | 1937 | 1940 | 1947 | . | Kitashirakawa Michihisa after 1947 | |
Higashifushimi-no-miya / Komatsu-no-miya
The Higashifushimi-no-miya house was formed by Prince Yoshiaki, seventh son of Prince Fushimi KuniyePrince Fushimi Kuniye
was a Japanese minor royal, he was the 20th prince Fushimi-no-miya 1817/1848, married and had issue, at least 17 sons and 4 daughters....
.
| Name | Born | Succeeded | Retired | Died | Comments | |
| 1 | 1846 X |
1867 1872 |
1872 . |
X 1903 |
changed name in 1872 | |
| 2 | 1876 | 1903 | . | 1922 | brother of Akihito reverted name back to Higashifushimi |
|
In 1931, Emperor Hirohito directed his brother-in-law, Prince Kuni Kunihide, to leave Imperial Family status and become Count
Count
A count or countess is an aristocratic nobleman in European countries. The word count came into English from the French comte, itself from Latin comes—in its accusative comitem—meaning "companion", and later "companion of the emperor, delegate of the emperor". The adjective form of the word is...
Higashifushimi Kunihide (hakushaku under the kazoku
Kazoku
The was the hereditary peerage of the Empire of Japan that existed between 1869 and 1947.-Origins:Following the Meiji Restoration of 1868, the ancient court nobility of Kyoto regained some of its lost status...
peerage system), to prevent the Higashifushimi name from extinction. Dowager Princess Higashifushimi Kaneko became a commoner on 14 October 1947. She died in Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
in 1955.
Kaya-no-miya
The Kaya-no-miya house was formed by Prince Kuninori, second son of Prince Kuni AsahikoPrince Kuni Asahiko
align=right|, was a member of a collateral line of the Japanese imperial family who played a key role in the Meiji Restoration. Prince Asahiko was an adopted son of Emperor Ninkō and later a close advisor to Emperor Kōmei and Emperor Meiji...
(first Kuni-no-miya, see above)
| Name | Born | Succeeded | Retired | Died | Notes | |
| 1 | 1867 | 1896 | . | 1909 | Kaya-no-miya was a personal title until 1900 | |
| 2 | 1900 | 1909 | 1947 | 1978 | Kaya Tsunenori after 1947 | |
| 3 | 1922 | 1978 | . | 1986 | ||
| 4 | 1926 | 1987 | . | . | brother of Nobuhiko; career diplomat | |
Asaka-no-miya
The Asaka-no-miya house was formed by Prince Yasuhiko, eighth son of Prince Kuni AsahikoPrince Kuni Asahiko
align=right|, was a member of a collateral line of the Japanese imperial family who played a key role in the Meiji Restoration. Prince Asahiko was an adopted son of Emperor Ninkō and later a close advisor to Emperor Kōmei and Emperor Meiji...
.
| Name | Born | Succeeded | Retired | Died | |
| 1 | 1887 | 1906 | 1947 | 1981 | |
| X | Asaka Takahiko | 1912 | 1981 | . | 1994 |
| X | Asaka Tomohiko | 1944 | 1994 | . | |
Higashikuni-no-miya
The Higashikuni-no-miya house was formed by Prince Naruhiko, ninth son of Prince Kuni AsahikoPrince Kuni Asahiko
align=right|, was a member of a collateral line of the Japanese imperial family who played a key role in the Meiji Restoration. Prince Asahiko was an adopted son of Emperor Ninkō and later a close advisor to Emperor Kōmei and Emperor Meiji...
.
| Name | Born | Succeeded | Retired | Died | Notes | |
| 1 | 1887 | 1906 | 1947 | 1990 | ||
| X | 1916 | 1947 | . | 1969 . | ||
| 2 | 1944 | 1990 | . | . | grandson of Naruhiko, son of Morihiro | |
Prince Higashikuni Nobuhiko became simply "Higashikuni Nobuhiko" after the abolition of the Japanese aristocracy during the American occupation of Japan in 1946.
Takeda-no-miya
The Takeda-no-miya house was formed by Prince Tsunehisa, eldest son of Prince Kitashirakawa YoshihisaPrince Kitashirakawa Yoshihisa
of Japan, was the 2nd head of a collateral branch of the Japanese imperial family.- Early life :Prince Kitashirakawa Yoshihisa was the ninth son of Prince Fushimi Kuniye . He entered the Buddhist priesthood under the title Rinnoji-no-miya...
(second Kitashirakawa-no-miya).
| Name | Born . | Succeeded | Retired | Died | |
| 1 | 1882 | 1906 | . | 1919 | |
| 2 | 1909 | 1919 | 1947 | 1992 | |
| 3 | 1940 | 1992 | . | . | |