Last Brother of Showa Emperor Deceased

The youngest brother of late Emperor Hirohito, Takahito, Prince Mikasa, died at 100 on Thursday. After retired as Major of Japanese Imperial Army, Takahito taught in colleges as a historian on ancient Orient. Imperial family lost one of the male families, leaving a discussion over extending the area of the family. Emperor Akihito is going to be in a mourning week, refraining from attending official events.

Takahito was hospitalized for treatment of acute pneumonia on May 16^th. After the symptom of pneumonia ceased, he had been staying for treatment of malfunction of heart. With sudden deterioration of his body condition in Thursday morning, Takahito got into a critical condition of cardiac arrest and deceased on 8:34 with his wife at his side.

Born as the fourth son of Taisho Emperor in 1915, Takahito graduated Military Academy of Imperial Army. He was one of the Staffs in the Expedition Army to China or Imperial Headquarters during the World War II. After the end of the war, his opinion in the Army that urged reflection over deteriorated discipline or unnecessary slaughters. In the regime change of post-war imperial system, he chose his life of studying history and became a teacher in Tokyo Women’s College.

Supporting his brother Hirohito and nephew Akihito, Takahito upheld post-war democracy in Japan. When the movement for revival of Empire Day took power in 1950s, he criticized it as a conspiracy for coercing fictitious calendar with state power. “After overtly cerebrated 2,600^th anniversary from national foundation in Showa 15^th, Japan recklessly entered into the war next year,” Takahito elaborated in his book.

Takahito is also known as having proposed introduction of abdication in Japanese imperial system. In his proposal in 1946, Takahito questioned that having no alternative to succession of throne except death might violate the spirit of the Constitution of Japan that prohibited holding any person in bondage. “The Emperor will be a slave of the Cabinet with ball and chain,” said Takahito about lack of provision about abdication.

It is likely that discussion over abdication, proposed by current Emperor Akihito, will be accelerated. “This is not an issue that can be laid under prolonged discussion,” told Chief Cabinet Secretary, Yoshihide Suga. A consultative committee for Prime Minister on reducing official work of the Emperor picked sixteen experts for hearing. “They will discuss roles of Emperor based on the Constitution of Japan,” said the Deputy Chairman, Takashi Mikuriya.