His Imperial Highness Prince Chichibu (also known as Prince Yasuhito) was the second son of Emperor Taishō and a younger brother of the Emperor Hirohito. Until the birth of his nephew Crown Prince Akihito in December 1933, Prince Chichibu was heir presumptive to the Chrysanthemum throne. (After his elder brother Hirohito of course.)
Prince Chichibu was born at Aoyama Detached Palace in Tokyo. Following ancient tradition in Japan, he and his elder brother were separated from their parents and entrusted to the care a respected ex-naval officer, Count Sumiyoshi Kawamura and his wife. They remained in the Count's care until he passed away in 1904. The brothers then returned to live at their parents at the Akasaka estate.
On 28 September 1928, he married Miss Matsudaira Setsuko. They had no children.
Prince Chichibu served in the Japanese Military as was the common custom prior to World War Two. He retired as a Colonel after being diagnosed with tuberculosis in June 1940. He spent most of World War II convalescing at a villa on Mount Fuji.
Prince Chichibu and his wife represented Japan at the May 1937 coronation of Britain's King George VI and Queen Elizabeth in Westminster Abbey. During that same tour of Europe he also made a visit of Nuremberg. There he participated to Nazi celebrations and met Hitler. At Nuremberg castle, Hitler launched a scathing attack against Stalin, after which the prince privately said to his aide-de-camp Masaharu Homma : "Hitler is an actor, it will be difficult to trust him."
Having never truly recovered from his tuberculosis, Prince Chichibu died at Kugenuma on 4 January 1953. His remains were cremated and the ashes buried at Toshimagaoka Cemetery, Bunkyo Ward, Tokyo, on 12 January 1953.
Prince Chichibu was born at Aoyama Detached Palace in Tokyo. Following ancient tradition in Japan, he and his elder brother were separated from their parents and entrusted to the care a respected ex-naval officer, Count Sumiyoshi Kawamura and his wife. They remained in the Count's care until he passed away in 1904. The brothers then returned to live at their parents at the Akasaka estate.
On 28 September 1928, he married Miss Matsudaira Setsuko. They had no children.
Prince Chichibu served in the Japanese Military as was the common custom prior to World War Two. He retired as a Colonel after being diagnosed with tuberculosis in June 1940. He spent most of World War II convalescing at a villa on Mount Fuji.
Prince Chichibu and his wife represented Japan at the May 1937 coronation of Britain's King George VI and Queen Elizabeth in Westminster Abbey. During that same tour of Europe he also made a visit of Nuremberg. There he participated to Nazi celebrations and met Hitler. At Nuremberg castle, Hitler launched a scathing attack against Stalin, after which the prince privately said to his aide-de-camp Masaharu Homma : "Hitler is an actor, it will be difficult to trust him."
Having never truly recovered from his tuberculosis, Prince Chichibu died at Kugenuma on 4 January 1953. His remains were cremated and the ashes buried at Toshimagaoka Cemetery, Bunkyo Ward, Tokyo, on 12 January 1953.
His Imperial Highness Prince Chichibu (also known as Prince Yasuhito) was the second son of Emperor Taishō and a younger brother of the Emperor Hirohito. Until the birth of his nephew Crown Prince Akihito in December 1933, Prince Chichibu was heir presumptive to the Chrysanthemum throne. (After his elder brother Hirohito of course.)
Prince Chichibu was born at Aoyama Detached Palace in Tokyo. Following ancient tradition in Japan, he and his elder brother were separated from their parents and entrusted to the care a respected ex-naval officer, Count Sumiyoshi Kawamura and his wife. They remained in the Count's care until he passed away in 1904. The brothers then returned to live at their parents at the Akasaka estate.
On 28 September 1928, he married Miss Matsudaira Setsuko. They had no children.
Prince Chichibu served in the Japanese Military as was the common custom prior to World War Two. He retired as a Colonel after being diagnosed with tuberculosis in June 1940. He spent most of World War II convalescing at a villa on Mount Fuji.
Prince Chichibu and his wife represented Japan at the May 1937 coronation of Britain's King George VI and Queen Elizabeth in Westminster Abbey. During that same tour of Europe he also made a visit of Nuremberg. There he participated to Nazi celebrations and met Hitler. At Nuremberg castle, Hitler launched a scathing attack against Stalin, after which the prince privately said to his aide-de-camp Masaharu Homma : "Hitler is an actor, it will be difficult to trust him."
Having never truly recovered from his tuberculosis, Prince Chichibu died at Kugenuma on 4 January 1953. His remains were cremated and the ashes buried at Toshimagaoka Cemetery, Bunkyo Ward, Tokyo, on 12 January 1953.
Prince Chichibu was born at Aoyama Detached Palace in Tokyo. Following ancient tradition in Japan, he and his elder brother were separated from their parents and entrusted to the care a respected ex-naval officer, Count Sumiyoshi Kawamura and his wife. They remained in the Count's care until he passed away in 1904. The brothers then returned to live at their parents at the Akasaka estate.
On 28 September 1928, he married Miss Matsudaira Setsuko. They had no children.
Prince Chichibu served in the Japanese Military as was the common custom prior to World War Two. He retired as a Colonel after being diagnosed with tuberculosis in June 1940. He spent most of World War II convalescing at a villa on Mount Fuji.
Prince Chichibu and his wife represented Japan at the May 1937 coronation of Britain's King George VI and Queen Elizabeth in Westminster Abbey. During that same tour of Europe he also made a visit of Nuremberg. There he participated to Nazi celebrations and met Hitler. At Nuremberg castle, Hitler launched a scathing attack against Stalin, after which the prince privately said to his aide-de-camp Masaharu Homma : "Hitler is an actor, it will be difficult to trust him."
Having never truly recovered from his tuberculosis, Prince Chichibu died at Kugenuma on 4 January 1953. His remains were cremated and the ashes buried at Toshimagaoka Cemetery, Bunkyo Ward, Tokyo, on 12 January 1953.
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