Transition of the Kan-in no Miya Residence
The Kan-in no Miya was a branch of the Imperial family, which also included princes of equal rank from the Houses of Fushimi no Miya, Katsura no Miya and Arisugawa no Miya.
The House of Kan-in no Miya was established in 1710 by Naohito Shinno, son of Emperor Higashiyama. At that time, the Kan-in no Miya residence was a large (498 tsubo or 1,643 m2) L-shaped compound in the southwest part of the court nobles’ residential areas. Other than the walls and gates, all the buildings here were moved from the former Higashiyama villa.
Plan of Kan-in no Miya compound
Kan-in no Miya family lineage
Green: (1st to 7th generations): House (generation number)
Purple (113th - 125th generations): Imperial Household (generation number)
Emperor Go-Momozono, the 118th Emperor, had no heir so the grandson of Naohito Shinno of the Kan-in no Miya branch of the Imperial Family, Emperor Kokaku, was named his successor. This line of descent continues through to the current emperor, the 125th holder of the title.
Kan-in no Miya compound and its surroundings, 1713
Kan-in no Miya compound and its surroundings, 1837
Kan-in no Miya compound today
The original buildings were lost in the Great Tenmei Fire. Details of later reconstructions are unknown. Records suggest that the current structures were built in 1883 under the supervision of the Department of the Imperial Household. It is believed that large portions of the structure and materials were salvaged from older buildings and restored to the form they had taken in the Edo Period.