Masahito, Prince Hitachi

Masahito, Prince Hitachi (Masahito Shinno; born 28 November 1935) is a member of the Imperial House of Japan and the younger brother of Emperor Akihito. He is the second son and sixth born child of Emperor Showa and Empress Kojun and is third in line to the Chrysanthemum Throne. Prince Hitachi is mainly known for philanthropy activities and his research on the causes of cancer.

Early Life and Education

Born at Tokyo Imperial Palace in Tokyo, Prince Masahito held the childhood appellation Prince Yoshi (Masahito Shinno).

He received his primary and secondary schooling at the Gakushuin Peers' School. In late 1944, the Imperial Household Ministry evacuated Prince Yoshi and the Crown Prince to Nikko, to escape the American bombing of Tokyo.

After the war, from 1947 to 1950, Mrs. Elizabeth Gray Vining tutored both princes and their sisters, the Princesses Kazuko, Atsuko and Takako in the English language. Her account of the experience is entitled Windows for the Crown Prince (1952).

Prince Yoshi received his undergraduate degree in chemistry from the Faculty of Science at Gakushuin University in 1958. He subsequently did postgraduate work in the Faculty of Science at Tokyo University. In 1969, he became a Research Associate of the Japanese Foundation for Research specializing in the study of cellular division. The results of his research have been reported in the technical journals of the Japanese Cancer Association, as well as of the American Association for Cancer Research.

In 1997, Prince Hitachi received an honorary doctorate from George Washington University in the United States, and in April 2001 received another from the University of Minnesota. In March 1999, he became an honorary member of the German Association for Cancer Research, recognition of his significant scientific contributions to the field of cancer research.

Marriage

On 30 September 1964, the Prince married Hanako Tsugaru (born 19 July 1940), fourth daughter of the late Yoshitaka Tsugaru, a former count and a descendant of the daimyo of Tsugaru Domain. The following day, Emperor Showa granted him the title (Prince Hitachi), and authorization to start a new branch of the Imperial Family in celebration of his wedding.

Prince Hitachi and Princess Hitachi have their official residence in a palace in large gardens off Komazawadori in Higashi, Shibuya.

Public Service

Prince Hitachi is the honorary president of a wide variety of charitable organizations, especially those involving international exchange. Most recently, Prince and Princess Hitachi visited Nicaragua and El Salvador, to mark the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations with both countries in October 2005. They also made a visit to France in September 2007 and Peru, marking the celebrations of 110 years since the establishment of a Japanese community in this country, June 2009.

Titles and Styles

28 November 1935-1 October 1964: His Imperial Highness The Prince Yoshi

1 October 1964-present: His Imperial Highness The Prince Hitachi

National Honors

-Grand Cordon of the Order of the Chrysanthemum

Foreign Honors

-Denmark: Knight of the Order of the Elephant (9/28/1965)

-Italy: Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (11/22/1965)

-Nepal: Member of the Order of Ojaswi Rajanya (4/19/1960)

Honorary Degree

-George Washington University

-University of Minnesota

-Chiang Mai University

Honorary Positions

-Member of the Imperial House Council

-President of the Japanese Society for the Preservation

-President of the Japanese Society for Disabled Children

-President of the Japan Institute of Invention and Innovation

-President of the Japan-Denmark Society

-President of the Dainippon Silk Foundation

-President of the Japanese Society for Rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities

-President of the Japan Art Association

-President of the Tokyo Zoological Park Society

-President of Maison Franco-Japonaise

-President of the Princess Takamatsu Cancer

-Honorary President of the Japan-Sweden Society

-Honorary President of the Japan-Belgium Society

-Honorary President of the Japanese Foundation for Cancer Research

-Honorary President of Association Pasteur Japan

-Honorary Vice-President of the Japanese Red Cross Society

House: Imperial House of Japan

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