Takahito, Prince Sumi, was born in Tokyo, Japan on 2 December 1915. He was the fourth and youngest son of then-Emperor Yoshihito and then-Empress Sadako.
Sumi attended Gakushuin from 1922 to 1932. By the time he began secondary education, his older brother Hirohito had already succeeded to the throne as the Emperor of Japan. Like his brothers, Sumi served in the Japanese military. After Sumi reached the age of majority, the Emperor granted Sumi the title of Prince Mikasa. Mikasa served in World War II, eventually being promoted to major in 1941.
Mikasa married on 22 October 1941. He had two (currently living) daughters and three sons who predeceased him: Tomohito, Yoshihito and Norihito.
After Japan was defeated in World War II, on 27 February 1946, Mikasa urged his brother the Emperor to abdicate the throne so that he can accept responsibility. However, the Emperor retained the throne due to Douglas MacArthur's statement.
Mikasa enrolled in the Literature Faculty of the University of Tokyo and studied archaeology and Middle Eastern studies and languages.
On 2 December 2015, Mikasa reached the age of 100, the first member of the imperial family to do so. His surviving wife also reached the age of 100 several years later.
On 16 May 2016, Mikasa was admitted to Saint Luke's International Hospital in Tokyo for acute pneumonia. He celebrated his 75th wedding anniversary on 22 October while he was undergoing treatment. However, he died at around 8 AM on 27 October. At the time of his death, Mikasa was the last surviving grandson of Mutsuhito, the Emperor Meiji, and the last surviving son of the Emperor Taishō. His funeral was held on 4 November. He is interred at Toshimagaoka Imperial Cemetery in Tokyo.
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Categories: Centenarians | Historians | Japanese Royalty | Imperial Japanese Army, World War II | Japan, Notables | Notables