Background
Kuni Kuniyoshi was born on June 23, 1873 in Kyoto, Japan. He was the third son of Prince Asahiko Kuni-no-Miya and the court lady Isume Makiko.
Kuni Kuniyoshi was born on June 23, 1873 in Kyoto, Japan. He was the third son of Prince Asahiko Kuni-no-Miya and the court lady Isume Makiko.
Kuni Kuniyoshi graduated from Staff Officers College.
After graduating from Staff Officers College, Kuni Kuniyoshi served General Staff Office. During the Russo-Japanese War distinguished himself in the battles fought on the Yalu River and at Mukden (1904-1905). After the war Kuni Kuniyoshi was sent to Europe to inspect military installations. Returning home, in 1909 he was appointed commander of 38th Regiment, then of 1st Imperial Brigade of Guards with the additional post of chief priest of Meiji Shrine. Thereafter was promoted general, then in 1923 military councilor with rank of general. The day he died he was promoted to the rank of field marshal.
On 13 December 1889, Prince Kuni Kuniyoshi married Shimazu Chikako, the seventh daughter of Prince Shimazu Tadayoshi, the last daimyō of Satsuma Domain. The marriage represented an alliance between the imperial family and the Satsuma clan. They had 6 children.
Princess Kuni Nagako known as Empress Kojun. In 1924 married Crown Prince Hirohito (the future Emperor Showa).
