Takahito, Prince Mikasa

Takahito
Prince Mikasa
The prince in 2012.
Takahito in 2012
BornTakahito, Prince Sumi
(澄宮崇仁親王)
(1915-12-02)2 December 1915
Tokyo Imperial Palace, Tokyo City, Empire of Japan
(now Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan)
Died27 October 2016(2016-10-27) (aged 100)
St. Luke's International Hospital, Chūō, Tokyo, Japan
Burial4 November 2016
Toshimagaoka Imperial Cemetery, Tokyo
Spouse
​
(m. 1941)​
Issue
HouseImperial House of Japan
FatherEmperor Taishō
MotherSadako Kujō
Military career
Allegiance Empire of Japan
Service / branch Imperial Japanese Army
Years of service1932–1945
Rank Major
Unit
Battles / wars

Takahito, Prince Mikasa (三笠宮崇仁親王, Mikasa-no-miya Takahito Shinnō, 2 December 1915 – 27 October 2016) was a Japanese prince, the youngest of the four sons of Emperor Taishō (Yoshihito) and Empress Teimei (Sadako). He was their last surviving child. His eldest brother was Emperor Shōwa (Hirohito). After serving as a junior cavalry officer in the Japanese Imperial Army during World War II, Takahito embarked upon a post-war career as a scholar and part-time lecturer in Middle Eastern studies and Semitic languages; he was especially interested in Jewish studies.

Prince Mikasa married Yuriko Takagi in 1941, and they had five children. Prince and Princess Mikasa outlived all three of their sons. With the death of his sister-in-law Kikuko, Princess Takamatsu, on 17 December 2004, Prince Mikasa became the oldest living member of the Imperial House of Japan. He remained active until a few months before his death at the age of 100. At the time of his death, Prince Mikasa was the oldest living royal.[1][2][3]

  1. ^ "Prince Mikasa, Emperor Akihito's uncle, turns 100". The Japan Times. 2 December 2015. Retrieved 2 December 2015.
  2. ^ "Prince Mikasa, a China war veteran who spanned three reigns, dies at 100". The Japan Times. 27 October 2016. Retrieved 27 October 2016.
  3. ^ Kaneko, Kaori (27 October 2016). "Japan's Prince Mikasa, oldest imperial family member, dies at 100". Reuters. Retrieved 27 October 2016.