Masahito, Prince Hitachi

Masahito 常陸宮正仁親王
Prince Hitachi
Prince Hitachi at the Grimaldi Forum in July 2010
Born	(1935-11-28) 28 November 1935 (age 81) Tokyo Imperial Palace, Tokyo City, Japan
Spouse	Hanako Tsugaru (m. 1964)
Full name Masahito (正仁?)
House	Imperial House of Japan
Father	Emperor Shōwa
Mother	Empress Kōjun
Religion	Shinto

Japanese Imperial Family
HM The Emperor HM 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 Princess Mikasa HIH Princess Tomohito of Mikasa HIH Princess Akiko of Mikasa HIH Princess Yōko of Mikasa HIH The Princess Takamado HIH Princess Tsuguko of Takamado HIH Princess Ayako of Takamado

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

HIH The Princess Mikasa

Masahito, Prince Hitachi (常陸宮正仁親王, Hitachi-no-miya Masahito Shinnō^?, born 28 November 1935) is a member of the Imperial House of Japan and the younger brother of current Emperor Akihito. He is the second son and sixth born child of Emperor Shōwa and Empress Kōjun and is fourth in line to the Chrysanthemum Throne. Prince Hitachi is mainly known for philanthropic activities and his research on the causes of cancer.

Born at the Tokyo Imperial Palace, Prince Masahito held the childhood appellation Prince Yoshi (義宮正仁親王, Yoshi-no-miya Masahito Shinnō^?).

He received his primary and secondary schooling at the Gakushūin Peers' School. In late 1944, the Imperial Household Ministry evacuated Prince Yoshi and the Crown Prince to Nikkō, 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).