Toshihiko Higashikuni - Toshihiko Higashikuni

A former member of the imperial family and a soldier. Born in Kyoto as the ninth child of Prince Kuni Asahiko. Founded the Higashikuni family in 1906 (Meiji 39). As an example of a member of the imperial family, he graduated from the Military Academy and the Army War College. His wife was Princess Toshiko, the ninth daughter of Emperor Meiji. He studied in France from 1920 to 1927 (Taisho 9 to Showa 2), where he was exposed to a liberal atmosphere. After returning to Japan, he served as commander of the 2nd and 4th divisions, chief of the Army Air Headquarters, and other positions. In 1938, he served in North China as commander of the 2nd Army, and in 1941, he became Commander-in-Chief of Defense. After Japan's defeat in World War II, he was the first member of the imperial family to become prime minister, and organized a cabinet to settle the war, but on October 4th, he resigned en masse, unable to comply with the democratization orders from GHQ (Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers). In 1947 (Showa 22), following the revision of the Imperial House Law, he left his status as a member of the imperial family, and thereafter became the talk of the town as the founder of a new religion called "Higashikunikyo."

[Akira Miyazaki]

"Higashikuni Diary" by Toshihiko Higashikuni (1968, Tokuma Shoten)" ▽ "Higashikuni Administration: 50 Days of the Postwar Cabinet" by Takashi Hasegawa (1987, Gyoken Publishing Bureau)

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

元皇族、軍人。久邇宮朝彦親王の第9子として京都に生まれる。1906年（明治39）東久邇宮家を創立。皇族の例として陸軍士官学校、陸軍大学校を卒業した。夫人は明治天皇の第9皇女聡子(としこ)内親王。1920～1927年（大正9～昭和2）フランスに留学、自由主義的雰囲気に触れる。帰国後第二・第四師団長、陸軍航空本部長などを歴任、1938年第二軍司令官として華北に従軍、1941年には防衛総司令官となった。第二次世界大戦敗戦後、初の皇族首相として、終戦処理内閣を組織したが、10月4日GHQ（連合国最高司令部）の民主化指令に対応できず、総辞職した。1947年（昭和22）皇室典範等の改正で皇族の身分を離脱、その後新興宗教「ひがしくに教」の教祖として話題となった。

［宮﨑　章］

『東久邇稔彦著『東久邇日記』（1968・徳間書店）』▽『長谷川峻著『東久邇政権・五十日　終戦内閣』（1987・行研出版局）』

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