Tsuneyoshi Takeda
| Tsuneyoshi Takeda | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Prince Takeda | |
| Reign | 23 April 1919 – 14 October 1947 |
| Head of Takeda-no-miya | |
| Reign | 23 April 1919 – 11 May 1992 |
| Born |
4 March 1909 Tokyo, Japan |
| Died | 11 May 1992 (aged 83) |
| Spouse | Mitsuko Sanjo |
| Issue | Tsunetada Takeda Motoko Takeda Noriko Takeda Tsuneharu Takeda Tsunekazu Takeda |
| Father | Prince Tsunehisa, Prince Takeda |
| Mother | Princess Masako, Princess Tsune |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance |
 Japan
|
| Service/branch |
 Imperial Japanese Army
|
| Years of service | 1930-1945 |
| Rank | Lieutenant-Colonel |
| Unit |
Unit 731 Southern Expeditionary Army Group Kwangtung Army |
| Battles/wars |
Second Sino-Japanese War Second World War |
Prince Tsuneyoshi Takeda (竹田宮恒徳王 Takeda-no-miya Tsuneyoshi-ō, 4 March 1909 – 11 May 1992) was the second and last heir of the Takeda-no-miya collateral branch of the Japanese Imperial Family.
Prince Takeda Tsuneyoshi was the only son of Prince Takeda Tsunehisa and Princess Masako, Princess Tsune (1888–1940), the sixth daughter of Emperor Meiji. He was, therefore, a first cousin of Emperor Shōwa.
Prince Tsuneyoshi became the second head of the Takeda-no-miya house on 23 April 1919. After being educated at the Gakushūin Peers' School, and serving for a session in the House of Peers, he graduated from the 32nd class of the Imperial Japanese Army Academy in July 1930, and received a commission as a sub-lieutenant in the cavalry.
On 12 May 1934, Prince Takeda married Sanjo Mitsuko. She was the youngest daughter of Prince Sanjo Kimiteru, with whom he had five children (3 sons and 2 daughters):
The Prince served a brief tour with a cavalry regiment in Manchuria, and rose to the rank of lieutenant in August 1930 and captain in August 1936. He then graduated from the 50th class of the Army War College in 1938 as the build-up to World War II was beginning. He was promoted to the rank of major in August 1940, and attached to the Imperial Japanese Army General Staff in Tokyo, where he headed the Personnel Department. He became lieutenant colonel in August 1943. Author Sterling Seagrave contends that between 1940 and 1945 Prince Takeda oversaw the looting of gold and other precious items in China, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Burma, Malaya, Singapore, Sumatra, Java, Borneo and the Philippines. Seagrave says that most of this loot was stored in 175 vaults located in the Philippines, and that considerable amounts have since been recovered by former Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos and others.
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