Editing Prince Naruhiko Higashikuni (section)

== Military career ==

Prince Higashikuni Naruhiko was a career officer in the [[Imperial Japanese Army]]. In 1908, he graduated from the [[Imperial Japanese Army Academy]] as a second lieutenant, was promoted to lieutenant in 1910 and to captain in 1913. In 1914, he graduated from the [[Army War College (Japan)|Army War College]]. He was commissioned a [[captain (land)|captain]] in the 29th Infantry Brigade and promoted to [[Major (rank)|major]] in the [[IJA 7th Division]] in 1915.

Prince Higashikuni then studied [[military tactics]] at the [[École Spéciale Militaire de Saint-Cyr]] and [[École Polytechnique]] in [[Paris]] [[France]], from 1920 to 1926, during which time he was promoted to lieutenant-colonel in 1920 and to colonel in 1926. Always somewhat of a rebel, Prince Higashikuni's behavior in Paris scandalized the Imperial Court. He had a French mistress, and enjoyed fast cars and high living. He left his wife and children in Japan, and the death of his second son did not prompt his return. In 1926, the [[Imperial Household Agency|Imperial Household Ministry]] dispatched a chamberlain to Paris to collect him.

Upon his return to Japan, he was assigned to the [[Imperial Japanese Army General Staff]] Headquarters. Promoted to major-general in August 1930 and appointed commander of the 5th Infantry Brigade (1930–1934), he was promoted to lieutenant-general in August 1934 and given command of the [[IJA 4th Division]] (1934–1937). After the start of the [[Second Sino-Japanese War]], he headed the [[Imperial Japanese Army Air Service]] (1937–1938), and the [[Japanese Second Army|IJA 2nd Army]] stationed in [[China]] from 1938–1939. He was promoted to general in August 1939.

According to a memo discovered by historian [[Yoshiaki Yoshimi]], Prince Higashikuni authorized the use of [[poison gas]] against the Chinese on 16 August 1938.<ref>Wakabayashi, Bob Tadashi (1991). "[http://chinajapan.org/articles/04.1/04.1wakabayashi4-27.pdf Emperor Hirohito on Localized Aggression in China] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721021647/http://chinajapan.org/articles/04.1/04.1wakabayashi4-27.pdf |date=2011-07-21 }}". ''Sino-Japanese Studies'' '''4''' (1), p. 7.</ref> Prince Higashikuni encouraged and enabled human experiments, providing advice, money, men and equipment. He personally witnessed [[Unit 731|human experiments conducted by the military physicians]] during his tours in [[Manchukuo]].<ref>{{Cite book|title=Emperor Hirohito and Showa Japan, A Political Biography
|last=Large|first=Stephen|publisher=Routledge|year=1995|isbn=9781-138009110|pages=67–68, 134, 117–119, 144–145}}</ref>

On 13 May 1939 the Imperial General Headquarters authorized the use of poison gas to [[Japanese Northern China Area Army]] (大陸指第四百五十二号). Only riot control agents were used till then. Prince Higashikuni moved to the post at home dated 4 January 1939. Promoted to full [[general]], the prince was awarded the [[Order of the Golden Kite]], 1st Class in 1940.{{Citation needed|date=March 2017}}

Before Japan entered the [[World War II|Second World War]], on 15 October 1941, outgoing [[Prime Minister of Japan|Prime Minister]] [[Fumimaro Konoe]] proposed Prince Higashikuni to Emperor Shōwa as his successor for prime minister.<ref>Peter Wetzler, ''Hirohito and War'', 1998, p. 41</ref> Konoe believed that only a member of the Imperial Family with a distinguished military background could restrain the pro-war faction led by Generals [[Hajime Sugiyama]], [[Hideki Tōjō]], and [[Akira Mutō]]. Prince Higashikuni was also the choice of both Chief of Staffs of the Army and the Navy.

However, both Emperor Shōwa and the [[Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal of Japan|Lord Privy Seal]], [[Kido Kōichi]], believed that it would be inappropriate for a member of the Imperial Family to serve in that position, as he could be blamed for anything which went wrong in the war. Thus, two days later, the Emperor chose army minister General [[Hideki Tōjō]] as prime minister. In 1946, he explained this decision: "I actually thought Prince Higashikuni suitable as Chief of Staff of the Army; but I think the appointment of a member of the Imperial house to a political office must be considered very carefully. Above all, in time of peace this is fine, but when there is a fear that there may even be a war, then more importantly, considering the welfare of the imperial house, I wonder about the wisdom of a member of the Imperial family serving [as prime minister]."<ref>Wetzler, ibid., p. 44, Terasaki Hidenari, ''Shōwa tennō dokuhakuroku'', 1991, p. 118</ref>

Six weeks later, Japan [[Attack on Pearl Harbor|attacked Pearl Harbor]]. During the early stages of the [[Pacific War]], Prince Higashikuni served as commander of the [[General Defense Command]] from 1941 to 1944.
[[File:1920 Prince Naruhito Higashikuni.jpg|thumb|[[Autochrome Lumière|Autochrome]] portrait by Auguste Léon, 1920]]
Prince Higashikuni remained steadfast in his opposition to the war with the [[Allies of World War II|Allied powers]], and was part of the conspiracy (with [[Prince Yasuhiko Asaka]], [[Nobuhito, Prince Takamatsu|Prince Nobuhito Takamatsu]], and former prime minister Konoe) which finally ousted Tōjō in July 1944 following the [[Battle of Saipan|fall of Saipan]] to American forces. The American researchers with [[Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers|SCAP]] also found out that he had planned towards the end of the war to depose Emperor Shōwa, placing the Crown Prince [[Akihito]] on the throne instead, governing the country with himself as regent.<ref>vgl. [https://www.archives.gov Records of the Army Staff: The Investigative Records Repository (IRR)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070725204231/http://www.archives.gov/ |date=2007-07-25 }} released under the ''Japanese Imperial Government Disclosure Act of 2000''</ref>