Prince Katsura

Yoshihito 桂宮 宜仁親王 Prince Katsura Father Prince Mikasa Mother Princess Mikasa Born 11 February 1948 (1948-02-11) Tokyo, Japan

Japanese Imperial Family HIM The Emperor HIM The Empress HIH The Crown Prince HIH The Crown Princess HIH The Princess Toshi HIH The Prince Akishino HIH The Princess Akishino HIH Princess Mako of Akishino HIH Princess Kako of Akishino HIH Prince Hisahito of Akishino HIH The Prince Hitachi HIH The Princess Hitachi HIH The Prince Mikasa HIH The Princess Mikasa HIH Prince Tomohito of Mikasa HIH Princess Tomohito of Mikasa HIH Princess Akiko of Mikasa HIH Princess Yōko of Mikasa HIH The Prince Katsura HIH The Princess Takamado HIH Princess Tsuguko of Takamado HIH Princess Noriko of Takamado HIH Princess Ayako of Takamado

Prince Katsura (桂宮 宜仁親王, Katsura-no-miya Yoshihito shinnō, born 11 February 1948) is a member of the Imperial House of Japan and the second son of HIH Prince Mikasa and HIH Princess Mikasa. He is a first cousin of Emperor Akihito. Originally known as Prince Yoshihito of Mikasa, he received the title Prince Katsura (Katsura-no-miya) and authorization to start a new branch of the Imperial Family on 1 January 1988.

Biography

Education

The Prince is a graduate from the Department of Political Studies in the Faculty of Law of Gakushuin University in 1971. From 1971 – 1973, he studied at the Graduate School of the Australian National University, in Canberra, Australia. After his return to Japan, he worked as an administrator at the Japan Broadcasting Corporation from 1974–1985.

Public service

In 1982, the Prince returned to Australia as part of the Japanese delegation in honor of the tenth anniversary of the Australia-Japan Society. He also visited New Zealand to strengthen ties and friendly diplomatic relations.

Prince Katsura has been paralyzed from the waist down since suffering a series of strokes in May 1988, and uses a wheelchair. Despite his disability, he takes an active role in public service, and appears regularly at award ceremonies, diplomatic events, and as President of various charity organizations.

In 1994, he visited Australia together with Princess Tomohito of Mikasa for a charity event for children with hearing or sight disabilities.

In July 1997, Prince Katsura again visited Australia, to help promote an exhibition of the traditional sport of sumo, with exhibition matches held in Sydney and Melbourne.

The Prince is not married.

Honorary positions

• President of the Japan Australia New Zealand Society
• President of the Agricultural Society of Japan
• President of the Japan Forestry Association
• President of the Japan Arts & Crafts Association
• President of the Japanese Urushi Craft Association

External links

• His Imperial Highness Prince Katsura – The Imperial Household Agency

Styles of Prince Katsura
Reference style	His Imperial Highness
Spoken style	Your Imperial Highness
Alternative style	Sir

Prince Katsura Imperial House of Japan Born: 28 November 1935
Japanese royalty
Preceded by Prince Tomohito	Line of succession to the Japanese throne 7th position	last in line