Ōke

Branches of the Japanese Imperial Family

Extended imperial family members gathered at Kyoto Imperial Palace Emperor Shōwa and members of the extended imperial family (c. 1937)

The Miyake (宮家, "Palace Houses") were branches of the Japanese imperial family (皇族 Kōka) created from branches of the Fushimi-no-miya house, the last surviving Shinnōke cadet branch. All but two (the Kan'in-no-miya and Nashimoto-no-miya) of these ōke (王家 "Royal Houses") were founded by the descendants of Prince Fushimi Kuniie, even if later those two were also descendants of Prince Kuniee genetically as his descendants were adopted into those families. 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 11 collateral branches (imperial houses) with 51 members.[1] After that point, only the immediate family of Emperor Shōwa 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.

In recent years, as a solution to the Japanese succession controversy, conservatives have proposed to reinstate several of the former imperial branches or else to allow the imperial family to adopt male members of the former imperial princely houses.

## List of ōke

[edit]

The member houses until 1947 were, in order of founding:

* Fushimi (伏見)
* Kan'in (閑院) - extinct in 1988
* Yamashina (山階) - extinct in 1987
* Kitashirakawa (北白川) - extinct in 2018
* Nashimoto (梨本) - extinct in 1951
* Kuni (久邇)
* Kaya (賀陽)
* Higashifushimi or Komatsu (東伏見 / 小松) - extinct in 1922
* Asaka (朝香)
* Higashikuni (東久邇)
* Takeda (竹田)

Unless otherwise stated, all princes listed herein are the sons of their predecessor.

### Fushimi-no-miya

[edit]

Main article: Fushimi-no-miya

The Fushimi-no-miya house was formed in 1409 by Prince Yoshihito.

The Fushimi-no-miya house is the ancestor of all the kyū-miyake families except Kan'in-no-miya.

### Kan'in-no-miya

[edit]

Main article: Kan'in-no-miya

The Kan'in-no-miya house was formed in 1718 by Prince Naohito.

### Nashimoto-no-miya

[edit]

Main article: Nashimoto-no-miya

Prince Nashimoto Moriosa (1819—1885), 1st head of the Nashimoto-no-miya house

Prince Nashimoto Morimasa (1874—1951), 3rd head of the Nashimoto-no-miya house

The Nashimoto-no-miya house was formed by Prince Moriosa, son of Prince Fushimi Sadayoshi (father of Prince Fushimi Kuniye)

| Name | Born | Succeeded | Retired | Died | Notes

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1 | Prince Nashimoto Moriosa
(梨本宮 守脩親王, Nashimoto-no-miya Moriosa-shinnō) | 1819 | 1870 |  | 1885 |
2 | Prince Nashimoto Kikumaro
(山階宮菊麿王, Nashimoto-no-miya Kikumaro-ō) | 1873 | 1885 | 1885 | 1908 | grand-nephew of Moriosa; resigned to return to the Yamashina household
3 | Prince Nashimoto Morimasa
(梨本宮守正王, Nashimoto-no-miya Morimasa-ō) | 1874 | 1885 | 1947 | 1951 | cousin of Kikumaro and fourth son of Kuni-no-miya Asahiko

### Kuni-no-miya

[edit]

Main article: Kuni-no-miya

Prince Kuni Asahiko (1824-1891), 1st chapter of the Kuni no Miya house

Prince Kuni Asaakira (1901-1959), 3rd head of the Kuni-no-miya house

The Kuni-no-miya house was formed by Prince Asahiko, fourth son of Prince Fushimi Kuniye

| Name | Born | Succeeded | Retired | Died | Notes

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1 | Prince Kuni Asahiko
(久邇宮 朝彦親王, Kuni-no-miya Asahiko shinnō) | 1824 | 1863 |  | 1891 | became shinnō in 1871
2 | Prince Kuni Kuniyoshi
(久邇宮 邦彦王, Kuni-no-miya Kuniyoshi ō) | 1873 | 1891 |  | 1929 | father of Empress Kojun
3 | Prince Kuni Asaakira
(久邇宮 朝融王, Kuni-no-miya Asaakira ō) | 1901 | 1929 | 1947 | 1959 |
4 | Kuni Kuniaki
(久邇 邦昭) | 1929 | 1959 |  |  |

### Yamashina-no-miya

[edit]

Main article: Yamashina-no-miya

Prince Yamashina Akira (1816—1891), 1st head of the house of Yamashina-no-miya

The Yamashina-no-miya house was formed by Prince Akira, eldest son of Prince Fushimi Kuniye.

| Name | Born | Succeeded | Retired | Died | Notes

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1 | Prince Yamashina Akira
(山階宮 晃親王, Yamashina-no-miya Akira shinnō) | 1816 | 1864 |  | 1898 |
2 | Prince Yamashina Kikumaro
(山階宮 菊麿王, Yamashina-no-miya Kikumaro-ō) | 1873 | 1898 |  | 1908 |
3 | Prince Yamashina Takehiko
(山階宮 武彦王, Yamashina-no-miya Takehito-ō) | 1898 | 1908 | 1947 | 1987 |

The Yamashina-no-miya became extinct with the death of Yamashina Takehiko.

### Kitashirakawa-no-miya

[edit]

Main article: Kitashirakawa-no-miya

Prince Kitashirakawa Yoshihisa (1847-1895), 2nd head of the house of Kitashirakawa-no-miya

Prince Naruhisa Kitashirakawa (1887-1923), 3rd head of the house of Kitashirakawa-no-miya

The Kitashirakawa-no-miya house was formed by Prince Satonari, thirteenth son of Prince Fushimi Kuniye.

| Name | Born | Succeeded | Retired | Died | Notes

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1 | Prince Kitashirakawa Satonari
(北白川宮 智成親王, Kitashirakawa-no-miya Satonari shinnō) | 1844 | 1872 |  | 1872 |
2 | Prince Kitashirakawa Yoshihisa
(北白川宮 能久親王, Kitashirakawa-no-miya Yoshihisa-shinnō) | 1847 | 1872 |  | 1895 | brother of above
3 | Prince Kitashirakawa Naruhisa
(北白川宮 成久王, Kitashirakawa-no-miya Naruhisa-ō) | 1887 | 1895 |  | 1923 |
4 | Prince Kitashirakawa Nagahisa
(北白川宮 永久王, Kitashirakawa-no-miya Nagahisa-ō) | 1910 | 1923 |  | 1940 |
5 | Prince Kitashirakawa Michihisa
(北白川宮 道久王, Kitashirakawa-no-miya Michihisa-ō) | 1937 | 1940 | 1947 | 2018 | Kitashirakawa Michihisa after 1947

The Kitashirakawa-no-miya became extinct with the death of Kitashirakawa Michihisa without heirs on 20 October 2018.[2]

### Higashifushimi-no-miya / Komatsu-no-miya

[edit]

Main article: Komatsu-no-miya

Prince Higashifushimi Yorihito (1867-1922)

Prince Komatsu Akihito (1846-1903), 1st head of the Komatsu no Miya house

The Higashifushimi-no-miya or the Komatsu-no-miya house was formed by Prince Yoshiaki, seventh son of Prince Fushimi Kuniye.

| Name | Born | Succeeded | Retired | Died | Notes

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1 | Prince Higashifushimi Yoshiaki
(東伏見宮 嘉彰親王, Higashifushimi no miya Yoshiaki-shinnō)
Prince Komatsu Akihito (小松宮 彰仁親王, Komatsu-no-miya Akihito-shinnō) | 1846
| 1867
1872 | 1872

1903 | changed name in 1872
2 | Prince Higashifushimi Yorihito
(東伏見宮 依仁親王, Higashifushimi no miya Yorihito-ō) | 1876 | 1903 |  | 1922 | brother of Akihito
reverted name back to Higashifushimi

In 1931, Emperor Shōwa 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.

### Kaya-no-miya

[edit]

Main article: Kaya-no-miya

Prince Kaya Kuninori (1867-1909), 1st chapter of the house of Kaya-no-miya

Prince Kaya Tsunenori (1900-1978), 2nd head of the house of Kaya-no-miya

The Kaya-no-miya house was formed by Prince Kuninori, second son of Prince Kuni Asahiko (first Kuni-no-miya, see above)

| Name | Born | Succeeded | Retired | Died | Notes

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1 | Prince Kaya Kuninori
(賀陽宮 邦憲王, Kaya-no-miya Kuninori shinnō) | 1867 | 1896 |  | 1909 | Kaya-no-miya was a personal title until 1900
2 | Prince Kaya Tsunenori
(賀陽宮 恒憲王, Kaya-no-miya Tsunenori-ō) | 1900 | 1909 | 1947 | 1978 | Kaya Tsunenori after 1947
3 | Kaya Kuninaga
(賀陽 邦寿) | 1922 | 1978 |  | 1986 | politician; died without heirs.
4 | Kaya Harunori
(賀陽 治憲) | 1926 | 1987 |  | 2011 | brother of Kuninaga; career diplomat; died without heirs.
5 | Kaya Masanori
(賀陽 正憲) | 1959 | 2011 |  |  | nephew of Harunori through his younger brother Akinori; career diplomat; with male issue.

### Asaka-no-miya

[edit]

Main article: Asaka-no-miya

Prince Asaka Yasuhiko (1887-1981), 1st chapter of the house of Asaka-no-miya

The Asaka-no-miya house was formed by Prince Yasuhiko, eighth son of Prince Kuni Asahiko.

| Name | Born | Succeeded | Retired | Died | Notes

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1 | Prince Asaka Yasuhiko
(朝香宮 鳩彦王, Asaka-no-miya Yasuhiko-ō) | 1887 | 1906 | 1947 | 1981 |
X | Asaka Takahiko (朝香 孚彦) | 1912 | 1981 |  | 1994 |
X | Asaka Tomohiko (朝香 誠彦) | 1944 | 1994 |  |  |

### Higashikuni-no-miya

[edit]

Main article: Higashikuni-no-miya

Prince Naruhiko Higashikuni (1887-1990), 1st head of the Higashikuni-no-miya house

Higashikuni Morihiro (1917-1969), 2nd head of the Higashikuni-no-miya house

The Higashikuni-no-miya house was formed by Prince Naruhiko, ninth son of Prince Kuni Asahiko.

| Name | Born | Succeeded | Retired | Died | Notes

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1 | Prince Higashikuni Naruhiko
(東久邇宮 稔彦王, Higashikuni-no-miya Naruhiko-ō) | 1887 | 1906 | 1947 | 1990 | Prime Minister of Japan (17 August 1945 – 9 October 1945)
X | Prince Higashikuni Morihiro
(東久邇宮 盛厚王, Higashikuni no miya Morihiro ō) | 1916 | 1947 |  | 1969 |
2 | Prince Higashikuni Nobuhiko
(東久邇宮 信彦王, Higashikuni-no-miya Nobuhiko-ō) | 1945 | 1990 |  | 2019 | grandson of Naruhiko, son of Morihiro
X | Higashikuni Yukihiko
(東久邇征彦, Higashikuni Yukihiko) | 1973 | 2019 |  |  | son of Nobuhiko

Prince Higashikuni Nobuhiko became simply "Higashikuni Nobuhiko" after the abolition of the Japanese aristocracy during the American occupation of Japan in 1947.

### Takeda-no-miya

[edit]

Main article: Takeda-no-miya

Prince Tsunehisa Takeda (1882-1919), 1st chapter of the house of Takeda-no-miya

Prince Tsuneyoshi Takeda (1909-1992), 2nd chapter of the house of Takeda-no-miya

The Takeda-no-miya house was formed by Prince Tsunehisa, eldest son of Prince Kitashirakawa Yoshihisa (second Kitashirakawa-no-miya).

| Name | Born | Succeeded | Retired | Died | Notes

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1 | Prince Takeda Tsunehisa
(竹田宮 恒久王, Takeda-no-miya Tsunehisa-ō) | 1882 | 1906 |  | 1919 |
2 | Prince Takeda Tsuneyoshi
(竹田宮 恒徳王, Takeda-no-miya Tsuneyoshi-ō) | 1909 | 1919 | 1947 | 1992 |
3 | Prince Takeda Tsunetada
(竹田 恒正, Takeda-no-miya Tsunetada-ō) | 1940 | 1992 |  |  |

## Proposal for reinstatement

[edit]

This section needs to be updated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information. (September 2017)

|

In January 2005, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi set up a panel consisting of 10 experts from various fields to discuss the succession law and possible ways to ensure stable succession in the imperial family. At that point, no male heir had been born to the Imperial family in 40 years, prompting concerns that there wouldn't be anyone to succeed Crown Prince Naruhito after he became emperor. The panel recommended giving eligibility to females and their descendants, that the first child, regardless of sex, be given priority in ascension, and that female family members who marry commoners be allowed to retain their imperial family member status. Itsuo Sonobe, deputy chairman of the 10-member government panel and a former Supreme Court justice, said that one of the panel's main concerns had been to find a solution that would win the people's support.[3]

Media opinion polls showed an overwhelming majority favoring the change, but the proposed revision was met with fierce opposition from conservatives, who held that the imperial dynasty, which had survived in an unbroken line stretching for nearly 2700 years, could not be dismissed and ended by a wave of deracinated modernity and uncaring recentism. They proposed instead that the government take recourse to ancient traditions under which such situations had been handled in the past. They pointed out that various branches of the old imperial family do still exist in Japan, and that the constitutional definition of the "imperial family" which prevails today was imposed by the occupying western forces as recently as 1947. They maintained that, rather than ending the ancient imperial dynasty, it would be more sensible and less radical to end the recent, western-imposed restrictions. Tsuneyasu Takeda [jp], a member of the former Takeda-no-miya collateral house (nephew of the current family head Tsunetada Takeda [jp] and son of Tsunekazu Takeda) and author of a book entitled The Untold Truth of Imperial Family Members, proposed to maintain the male line by restoring the former princely houses or by allowing imperial family members to adopt males from those families. Although Takeda has written that such men should feel a responsibility to maintain the royal house, he said he would find it daunting if asked to play that role himself.[4] According to Takeda, the heads of the former court families agreed in late 2004, just before Koizumi's advisory panel started its discussions, not to speak out on the issue and some of them told him to "not get involved in political issues".[5] Opponents of the reinstatement of former collateral branches, like Liberal Democratic Party politician Yōichi Masuzoe, argued that it would favor members of families with tenuous blood links to long-ago emperors over contemporary female descendants of recent sovereigns.[6]

During a series of hearings on the succession problem in early 2012, Yoshiko Sakurai and Akira Momochi, conservative members of the panel of experts, rejected proposals for female members of the imperial family to be allowed to retain their royal status after marriage and create new branches of the imperial family, and instead suggested revising the Imperial Household Law so that male descendants of former imperial families which renounced their royal status in 1947 be allowed to return to the imperial family as adoptees.[7] Another proposal was to reinstate four of the former imperial families,[8] a solution opposed by the government on the grounds that it would not enjoy public support.[9] Government sources told the Yomiuri Shimbun in May 2012 that the suggestion to reinstate men from the former princely houses as imperial family members through adoption had been unexpected.[10]

In September 2021, it was considered to amend the Imperial Household Law and allow the 85-year old Prince Hitachi to adopt a male member of the collateral branches of the imperial family.[11]

## References

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1. ^ Saitō Katsuhisa (June 20, 2022). "Royal Reduction: The Postwar Downsizing of Japan's Imperial Family". Nippon.com. Archived from the original on June 20, 2022.
2. ^ "元皇族の北白川道久氏死去" [Former Imperial Family Member Michihisa Kitashirakawa Has Died]. Jiji Press (in Japanese). 22 October 2018. Archived from the original on 22 October 2018. Retrieved 16 February 2020.
3. ^ Onishi, Norimitsu (December 27, 2005). "What Japan's Aiko Lacks: The Royal Y Chromosome". The New York Times.
4. ^ "Male-Only Imperial Line Backed". Gulf Daily News. February 17, 2006.
5. ^ Imperial Family/Uncharted terrain: Those who do not want females or their descendants to become emperor feel stymied.
6. ^ Royal Pregnancy Delays Resolution of Japan’s Imperial Succession Dilemma
7. ^ "2 experts at gov't hearing oppose creating female imperial branches". The Mainichi. April 11, 2012.
8. ^ Warnock, Eleanor (April 11, 2012). "Japanese Journalist Weighs in on the Princess Problem". The Wall Street Journal.
9. ^ Takeshi Okamura and Katsumi Takahashi (March 2, 2012). "Imperial Family Talks Begin: Should Female Members Retain Royal Status after Marriage?". The Daily Yomiuri.
10. ^ Yutaka Ito, Katsumi Takahashi and Takeshi Okimura (May 4, 2012). "Imperial Revision Draft Set for Autumn Release". The Daily Yomiuri.
11. ^ Tokyo, Richard Lloyd Parry. "Adopted sons tipped to stave off Japan's imperial succession crisis". The Times. Retrieved September 30, 2021.

## Bibliography

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* Fujitani, T. Splendid Monarchy: Power and Pageantry in Modern Japan. University of California Press; Reprint edition (1998). ISBN 0-520-21371-8
* Lebra, Sugiyama Takie. Above the Clouds: Status Culture of the Modern Japanese Nobility. University of California Press (1995). ISBN 0-520-07602-8

## External links

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* Japan's "Princess Problem" – Website The Royal Universe

Media related to Ōke at Wikimedia Commons