Kan'in-no-miya

The Kan'in-no-miya house (閑院宮家) is the youngest of the four shinnōke. It was founded by Prince Naohito, the son of Emperor Higashiyama.

Fearing the extinction of the Imperial Line, Arai Hakuseki proposed that a new branch of the Imperial Family be created. In 1718, Retired Emperor Reigen bestowed upon his grandson the title of Kan'in-no-miya and land worth 1000 koku. Thus, the first new miyake was formed since the Arisugawa-no-miya in 1625.

The name Kan'in-no-miya is thought to have come from the title of Prince Sadamoto, a son of the Heian-era Emperor Seiwa.

Arai Hakusei's wisdom was soon proved with the second Kan'in-no-miya, Sukehito shinnō. Emperor Go-Momozono died with only a single daughter. Sukehito's son became Emperor Kōkaku.

The Kan'in House went extinct upon the death of Kan'in Sumihito (formerly Kan'in-no-miya Haruhito shinnō) in 1988

Unless otherwise stated, all princes herein listed are the sons of their predecessors

• 1 1718-1753 Naohito shinnō (直仁親王) (1704-1753)
• 2 1753-1794 Sukehito shinnō (典仁親王) (1733-1794); father of Kōkaku of Japan
• 3 1794-1818 Haruhito shinnō (美仁親王)(1768-1818)
• 4 1818-???? Tatsuhito shinnō (孝仁親王) (????-????)
• 5 ????-1872 Naruhito shinnō (愛仁親王) (1848?-1872)
• 6 1872-1945 Kotohito shinnō (載仁親王) (1865-1945), 12th cousin twice removed, son of Fushimi-no-miya Kuniye
• 7 1945-1988 Haruhito shinnō (春仁親王) (1902-1988); just Kan'in Haruhito (Sumihito) after 1947