Shinnōke
Cadet branches of the Imperial House of Japan / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"Shinno" redirects here. For the culture hero and legendary ruler of China, see Shennong.
Seshū Shinnōke (世襲親王家) was the collective name for the four cadet branches of the Imperial family of Japan, which were until 1947 entitled to provide a successor to the Chrysanthemum throne if the main line failed to produce an heir. The heads of these royal houses held the title of imperial prince (親王, shinnō), regardless of their genealogical distance from the reigning Emperor, as the term seshū in their designation meant that they were eligible for succession.