Konoe (written: 近衛 or 近衞) is a Japanese surname. It is sometimes spelled "Konoye" based on historical kana usage. Notable people with the surname include: , the 76th emperor of Japan , Japanese politician and journalist , Japanese politician and the 34th, 38th and 39th Prime Minister of Japan , Japanese kugyō , Japanese classical composer and conductor , Japanese kugyō , Japanese kugyō , Japanese kugyō , Japanese kugyō , Japanese kugyō , Japanese kugyō , Japanese kugyō , Japanese kugyō , Japanese kugyō , Japanese actor , Japanese kugyō , Japanese kugyō , Japanese kugyō , Japanese kugyō , Japanese kugyō , Japanese kugyō , Japanese kugyō , Japanese kugyō , Japanese kugyō , Japanese courtier, poet, calligrapher, painter and diarist , Japanese kuge , Japanese kugyō , Japanese kugyō , Japanese kugyō , Japanese kugyō , president of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies , Japanese kugyō , Japanese kugyō , Japanese kugyō , Japanese kugyō , Japanese princess See also Konoe family, a branch of the Fujiwara family Japanese-language surnames