Royal Profile: Prince Masahito of Japan, The Prince Hitachi

 Prince Masahito of Japan,  The Prince Hitachi was born 28 November 1935 as the younger brother of Emperor Emeritius Akihito and second to youngest child of Emperor Hirohito and Empress Kōjun. He had 5 sisters and one brother{Source}:

1. Shigeko, Princess Teru (1925-1961)
1. Morihiro Higashikuni
1. Prince Nobuhiko Higashikuni (1945)
1. Yoshiko Shimada (m. 1973)
1. Yukihiko Higashikuni (1974)
2. Princess Fumiko Higashikuni (1946)
1. Mr. Kazutoshi Omura
3. Hidehiko Higashikuni (1949)
4. Naohiko Higashikuni (1953)
1. Kazuko Sato
1. Teruhiko
2. Mutsuhiko
5. Yūko Higashikuni (1954)
2. Princess Hisa of Japan (1927-1928)
3. Princess Taka of Japan (1929-1989)
1. Toshimichi Takatsukasa(m. 1955)
1. Naotake Takatsukasa (adopted)
4. Princess Yori of Japan (1931)
1. Takamasa Ikeda (m. 1952)
5. Princess Suga of Japan (1937)
1. Hisanaga Shimazu (1934, m. 1960)
1. Yoshihisa Shimazu (1962)

He began his education in Japan, attending Gakushūin Peers' School. When he was just 9 years old, he and his brother were evacuated to avoid the bombing by the Americans in WW2. After the war was over, he was returned to Japan, and tutored in English, along side his siblings. He attended Gakushuin University, earning a bachelor's degree in Chemistry in 1958.  He also did postgraduate work at the Toyko University. Upon graduation, he became a Research Associate of the Japanese Foundation for Cancer Research specializing in the study of cellular division. Due to his extensive reserach in cancer, he has been awarded by several institutions:

• In 1997, Prince Hitachi received an honorary doctorate from George Washington University in the United States
•  In March 1999, he became an honorary member of the German Association for Cancer Research, in recognition of his significant scientific contributions to the field of cancer research.
• In April 2001 received another from the University of Minnesota.

On 30 September 1964, the Prince married Hanako Tsugaru. Together, they have no children. He is presently third in succession for the Japanese throne.