Komatsunomiya Akihito

(1846–1903), adopted by Emperor Ninko in 1858 as a potential heir to the throne, was initially sent into the Buddhist priesthood and assigned to serve at a temple in Kyoto. He returned to secular life in 1867 during the Meiji Restoration, and led the imperial forces during the Boshin War to overthrow the Tokugawa shogunate. Considered a brilliant military tactician, he helped subdue many of the samurai rebellions in the early years of the Meiji period.