His father, Naotsugu, passed away at a young age, and the Retired Emperor Gomizunoo ordered that Motohiro be adopted outside of the Konoe family, under the roof of the retired emperor, since Naotsugu did not have a son with his legal wife, Imperial Princess Akiko.
父、尚嗣が早世し、尚嗣と正室昭子内親王の間には男子がなかったため、後水尾上皇の命により、近衛家の外にあった基熙が迎えられて上皇の保護下で育てられた。