Grand Duke Jean of Luxembourg – Funeral Information

Cathedral Notre-Dame of Luxembourg; Credit – By Николай Максимович, CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=55126139

Note: This article was about the plans for the funeral of Grand Duke Jean’s funeral. We now have an article about the actual funeral. Check it out at Funeral of Grand Duke Jean of Luxembourg

The funeral mass for Grand Duke Jean of Luxembourg will be celebrated on Saturday, May 4, 2019, at 11:00 AM at the Cathedral Notre-Dame of Luxembourg in Luxembourg City, Luxembourg. He will be buried in the Ducal Crypt at the Cathedral of Notre-Dame. Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa have expressed the wish that the public should be able to attend the funeral. The number of available places were limited and were allocated in the order of registration of the interested persons. The Grand Ducal Court will observe a period of mourning for six weeks.

A live stream of Grand Duke Jean’s funeral will be available online at https://www.rtl.lu/, the main television channel in Luxembourg. RTL broadcasts in Luxembourgish. The broadcast will start at 10 AM and end at 1 PM, Luxembourg time which is six hours ahead of Eastern Time in the United States. Following the funeral, RTL will show documentaries about Grand Duke Jean.

The nave of the Cathedral Notre-Dame of Luxembourg; Credit – By Benh LIEU SO – Own work, CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3551313

Many members of current monarchies and past monarchies attended the funeral including representatives from the other nine reigning European monarchies.  There was a large contingent from Belgium. King Albert II of Belgium was the brother-in-law of Grand Duke Jean as Jean had married his sister Joséphine Charlotte of Belgium. Philippe, King of the Belgians and his siblings Princess Astrid and Prince Laurent are first cousins of Grand Duke Jean’s son Grand Duke Henri and his other children.

Grand Duke Jean’s sisters married into the Hohenberg, Henckel von Donnersmarck, Holstein-Ledreborg, and Ligne families and many representatives of those families attended the funeral. Grand Duke Jean had 51 first cousins from among several royal families such as the Bourbon-Parma, Habsburg (Austrian), Bavarian, and Bulgarian royal families and many members of those families attended his funeral. Below is a list of some of the members of current monarchies and past monarchies who attended the funeral.

REIGNING HOUSES

Belgium
King Philippe
Queen Mathilde
King Albert II
Queen Paola
Princess Elisabeth, Duchess of Brabant
Princess Astrid
Prince Lorenz
Prince Laurent
Princess Léa

Denmark
Queen Margrethe II

Jordan
Prince Hassan
Princess Sarvath
Prince Rashid
Princess Badi’a

Liechtenstein
Hereditary Prince Alois
Hereditary Princess Sophie

Monaco
Prince Albert II of Monaco

Morocco
Prince Moulay Rachid

Netherlands
Princess Beatrix

Norway
King Harald V
Queen Sonja
Princess Astrid

Spain
King Juan Carlos
Queen Sofia

Sweden
King Carl XVI Gustaf
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United Kingdom
The Princess Royal
The Duke of Gloucester
The Duchess of Gloucester

NON-REIGNING HOUSES

Albania
Prince Leka II

Bulgaria
Princess Miriam

France
Jean-Carl d’Orléans, Count of Paris

Greece
Queen Anne-Marie
Crown Prince Pavlos

Portugal
Duarte Pio, Duke of Braganza

Romania
Margareta, Custodian of the Romanian Crown
Prince Radu

Yugoslavia
Prince Serge and Princess Eleonora

OTHER FORMER MONARCHIES

Austria
Karl, Archduke of Austria and 18 family members

Bavaria
Franz, Duke of Bavaria

Bourbon
Louis Alphonse, Duke of Anjou

Bourbon-Parma
Charles-Xavier and Duchess Annemarie, Duke and Duchess of Parma

Bourbon and Two Sicilies
Prince Carlos, Duke of Castor and the Duchess of Castro

Prussia
Prince Georg Frierdich

Grand Ducal Palace; Credit – By Ernmuhl at lb.wikipedia – Own work transferred from lb.wikipedia., CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=902749

On Sunday, April 28, 2019, Grand Duke Jean’s coffin was transferred from Berg Castle, the principal residence of the Grand Ducal Family, to the Grand Ducal Palace in Luxembourg City. The Grand Ducal Palace is the official residence of the Grand Duke of Luxembourg, and where most of his duties as head of state are performed. At the Grand Ducal Palace, Grand Duke Jean’s coffin will lie in state and the public who wish to pay their respects will be invited to do so from Monday, April 29, 2019 through Friday, May 3, 2019. A book of condolences will be available to the public at the guard post of the Grand Ducal Palace, Berg Castle, and Fischbach Castle, where Grand Duke Jean lived after his abdication in 2000.

Grand Duke Henri, Grand Duchess Maria Teresa and members of the Grand Ducal Family pay their repsects to Grand Duke Jean as he lies in state at the Grand Ducal Palace; Credit – http://www.monarchie.lu/fr

For more information about the Grand Ducal Family of Luxembourg, please click on Unofficial Royalty: Luxembourg Index.

Emperor Shōwa of Japan (Hirohito)

by Susan Flantzer  © Unofficial Royalty 2019

Emperor Hirohito after his enthronement ceremony in 1928; Credit – Wikipedia

Emperor of Japan for 62 years, Hirohito, now known in Japan by his posthumous name Emperor Shōwa, was born during the reign of his grandfather Emperor Meiji on April 29, 1901, at the Tōgū Palace in Aoyama, Tokyo, Japan. The eldest of the four sons of Crown Prince Yoshihito and Crown Princess Sadako, now known by their posthumous names Emperor Taishō and Empress Teimei, he was given the childhood appellation Michi-no-miya and the personal name Hirohito.

Hirohito in 1902; Credit – Wikipedia

Hirohito had three younger brothers:

Hirohito and his brothers in 1921: Hirohito, Mikasa, Takamatsu, and Chichibua; Credit – Wikipedia

As was the custom, the infant Hirohito was placed in the care of a noble family, that of Count Kawamura Sumiyoshi, a former vice-admiral. When Kawamura died in 1904, Hirohito and his two-year-old brother Chichibua were returned to court. Starting in 1906, Hirohito attended a kindergarten established at the Aoyama Imperial Palace. From 1908 – 1914, he attended the Gakushūin (Peers School), established to educate the children of the Japanese nobility.

Hirohito’s grandfather Emperor Meiji died on July 30, 1912, and his father Yoshihito became Emperor of Japan. He is known by his posthumous name Taishō. Emperor Taishō had cerebral meningitis when he was three weeks old and this affected his health and his mental capacity, including a speech disorder and difficulty walking, for the rest of his life. Due to his health issues, he often had been unable to continue his studies as a child and had been a poor student in areas requiring higher-level thinking. Because of Emperor Taishō’s weak physical and mental condition, his wife exerted a strong influence during his reign. Emperor Taishō was kept out of public view as much as possible because of mental incapacity.

Crown Prince Hirohito in 1916; Credit – Wikipedia

At the time of his father’s accession to the throne, Hirohito became the heir apparent. He was formally proclaimed Crown Prince on November 2, 1916. From 1914 – 1921, Hirohito attended a special institute to prepare him for his future role as Emperor. Within a few years, it became apparent that Emperor Taishō could not carry out any public functions, participate in daily government matters, or make decisions. This was left to his government ministers and eventually to his son Crown Prince Hirohito. Finally, Crown Prince Hirohito was named Prince Regent on November 25, 1921.

In a step away from tradition, Hirohito was allowed to choose his own bride. In 1917, eligible young women participated in a tea ceremony at the Imperial Palace while Hirohito watched unseen from behind a screen. He selected 14-year-old Princess Nagako Kuni, eldest daughter of Prince Kuniyoshi Kuni, a lieutenant general in the Imperial Japanese Army, and a member from one of the branch houses of the imperial dynasty entitled to provide a successor to the throne of Japan by adoption. Princess Nagako had been chosen to participate in the tea ceremony because of her lineage and her father’s exemplary military career. The engagement was announced in January 1919 but the marriage did not occur until January 26, 1924.

Hirohito and Nagako in 1924; Credit – Wikipedia

Hirohito and Nagako had seven children. Three daughters, Princess Taka, Princess Yori, and Princess Suga, married commoners and as required by law instituted after World War II, gave up their imperial titles and left the Japanese Imperial Family.

Hirohito and Nagako with five of their children in 1941; Credit – Wikipedia

On December 25, 1926, Emperor Taishō died of a heart attack at the age of 47 and Hirohito began his long reign as Emperor of Japan. The early years of Hirohito’s reign saw an increase in military power in the government by both legal and illegal means. In 1932, the assassination of moderate Prime Minister Tsuyoshi Inukai ended any civilian control of the military. This was followed by the failed coup attempt in Japan on February 26, 1936, by lower-ranking army officers. During the coup, a number of senior government officials and army officers were murdered. The coup finally ended with Hirohito playing an important role.

By the 1930s, the military held almost all of Japan’s political power and pursued policies that eventually led to Japan’s role in World War II. During World War II, Japan formed an alliance with Germany and Italy called the Axis powers. In July 1945, Hirohito wanted to negotiate an end to the war with the Allies. The Allies issued an ultimatum insisting on the unconditional surrender of all Japanese forces and the severe punishment of all Japanese war criminals. The Japanese government did not accept this ultimatum, partly because it was unclear whether Emperor Hirohito would face punishment as a war criminal. On August 6 and August 9, 1945, atomic bombs were dropped on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. While the Japanese government wished to continue the war, Hirohito decided against the will of the military and government to use his powers and end the war by surrendering.

American General Douglas MacArthur and Emperor Hirohito at their first meeting at the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo on September 27, 1945; Credit – Wikipedia

After the war, some believed that Hirohito was chiefly responsible for Japan’s role in the war and others said that he was just a powerless puppet under the influence of Prime Minister Hideki Tōjō who was eventually executed for war crimes. The view promoted by the Japanese Imperial Palace and the American occupation forces immediately after World War II portrayed Emperor Hirohito as a powerless figurehead behaving strictly according to protocol. However, since his death in 1989, a debate began to surface over the extent of his involvement and his culpability in World War II.

The Allies insisted that Emperor Hirohito state publicly that he was not a god but just a man like any other. Actually, no emperor had ever claimed that he was a god and so Hirohito made a statement in his usual New Year’s message that did not change the ancient tradition for the Japanese that the Emperor descended from the sun goddess Amaterasu: “Those ties that surround me and my people are not based on the false idea that the Emperor is divine.”

In 1947, a new constitution was enacted with input from the Allies which replaced Japan’s previous militaristic system of the semi-absolute monarchy with a form of democracy. The constitution provided for a parliamentary system of government and guaranteed certain fundamental rights. Under its terms, the Emperor of Japan is “the symbol of the State and of the unity of the people” and exercises a purely ceremonial role. No amendment has been made to it since its adoption.

Empress Nagako and Emperor Hirohito in 1971; Credit – Wikipedia

For the rest of his life, Emperor Hirohito was an active figure in Japan, performing many of the duties of the head of state. The emperor and his family showed a strong public presence. They often performed official engagements and were seen during special events and on holidays. Hirohito also played an important role in rebuilding Japan’s diplomatic position. On foreign trips and in Japan, he met with many foreign heads of state including Presidents of the United States and Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom.

Empress Nagako, First Lady Betty Ford, Emperor Hirohito, and President Gerald Ford at the White House before a state dinner on October 2, 1975; Credit – Wikipedia

Hirohito was very interested in marine biology and the Imperial Palace contained a laboratory where he worked. He published several scientific papers on the subject and was considered one of the most respected jellyfish experts in the world.

On September 22, 1987, Emperor Hirohito underwent surgery on his pancreas after several months of digestive problems. The doctors discovered duodenal cancer. Hirohito seemed to recover well after the surgery but a year later, he collapsed. His health deteriorated and he suffered from constant internal bleeding. Emperor Hirohito died at the Fukiage Ōmiya Palace on the grounds of the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, Japan on January 7, 1989, at the age of 87. He was buried at the Musashi Imperial Graveyard in Hachiōji, Tokyo, Japan, and was given the posthumous name Emperor Shōwa.

Burial Site of Emperor Shōwa; Credit – Wikipedia

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

State of Japan Resources at Unofficial Royalty

Works Cited

  • De.wikipedia.org. (2018). Hirohito. [online] Available at: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hirohito [Accessed 25 Oct. 2018].
  • En.wikipedia.org. (2018). Hirohito. [online] Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hirohito [Accessed 25 Oct. 2018].
  • Ja.wikipedia.org. (2018). 大正天皇. [online] Available at: https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%A4%A7%E6%AD%A3%E5%A4%A9%E7%9A%87 [Accessed 23 Oct. 2018].

Princess Takamado of Mikasa (Hisako Tottori)

by Susan Flantzer  © Unofficial Royalty 2019

Credit – By Andrew Smith Lewis – Princess TakamadoUploaded by Dɐ, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=30674444

The widow of Prince Takamado of Mikasa, Hisako Tottori was born in Tokyo, Japan on July 10, 1953. She is the elder of the two daughters of Shigejiro Tottori, an industrialist employed by Mitsui & Co., Ltd. Hisako attended primary and secondary school at the Sacred Heart School, a Roman Catholic all-girls school in Tokyo, until her father was transferred to the United Kingdom for his job. Living in the United Kingdom, Hisako became fluent in English. She attended Girton College, Cambridge University, graduating in 1975 with a Bachelor’s degree in anthropology and archaeology.

After her university graduation, Hisako returned to Japan where she worked as a translator for a translation company. However, she returned to the United Kingdom for training regarding legal terminology used for laws and statutes and received a Master’s degree from the University of Cambridge in 1979. Later in her life, in 2012, Hisako received a Ph.D. in Arts and Culture from the Osaka University of Arts in Osaka, Japan

In 1982, Hisako was hired as an interpreter and assistant to Prince Mikasa, her future father-in-law, at the 31st International Asian-North African Cultural Symposium. Two years later, on April 23, 1984, Hisako met Prince Mikasa’s youngest son Prince Takamado at a reception at the Canadian Embassy in Tokyo. Prince Takamado’s father Prince Mikasa was the youngest son of Emperor Taishō, the youngest brother of Emperor Hirohito (Shōwa), and the uncle of Emperor Akihito. Prince Tomohito was called “of Mikasa” because his father was given the authorization to form a new branch of the Imperial Family by Emperor Hirohito (Shōwa).

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The prince proposed to Hisako on May 20, 1984, and then the Imperial Household Council announced the engagement on August 1, 1984. On September 17, 1984, the formal engagement ceremony was held and the couple was married on December 6, 1984. After her marriage, Hisako was styled Her Imperial Highness The Princess Takamado.

Prince and Princess Takamado had three daughters:

  • Princess Tsuguko (born 1986)
  • Princess Noriko (born 1988), married Kunimaro Senge, gave up her imperial title and left the Imperial Family as required by 1947 Imperial Household Law and is now known as Noriko Senge
  • Princess Ayako (born 1990), married Kei Moriya, gave up her imperial title and left the Imperial Family as required by 1947 Imperial Household Law and is now known as Ayako Moriya, has three sons
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Prince and Princess Takamado at the 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea-Japan (soccer)

Prince and Princess Takamado were the most widely traveled couple in the Japanese Imperial Family, representing Japan in 35 countries together over 15 years. One of their most important visits was to the Republic of Korea (South Korea) from May to June 2002 to attend the opening ceremony and games of the 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea-Japan (soccer). This was the first visit of members of the Japanese Imperial Family to South Korea since World War II and it was an important step in the promotion of friendly relations between the two countries.

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Princess Takamado at the funeral of her husband

On November 21, 2002, while playing squash with the Canadian ambassador Robert Wright at the Canadian Embassy in Tokyo, Prince Takamado collapsed due to ventricular fibrillation. He was immediately taken to Keio University Hospital but was already in a state of cardiopulmonary arrest. He was resuscitated but his condition then worsened and soon there was no hope that he would survive. With the consent of his wife, Prince Takamado was removed from life support and died at the age of 47.

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Princess Takamado presents a trophy at the 2018 Prince Takamado Cup, Japan’s national youth football  (soccer) cup tournament, named after her husband

Although Princess Takamado was left a widow with three children, she continued her husband’s efforts to foster international goodwill. She has been extremely active with many charitable organizations involving sports, cultural exchange, and the environment, taking on all of the positions formerly held by her late husband and many new positions. Princess Takamado has traveled throughout Japan and all over the world on behalf of the organizations. She often represents the Japanese Imperial Family at royal events in other monarchies.

Princess Takamado attending the wedding of Princess Madeleine of Sweden; Credit – By Frankie Fouganthin https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=26670920

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Works Cited

  • En.wikipedia.org. (2019). Hisako, Princess Takamado. [online] Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hisako,_Princess_Takamado [Accessed 31 Jan. 2019].
  • Ja.wikipedia.org. (2019). 憲仁親王妃久子. [online] Available at: https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%86%B2%E4%BB%81%E8%A6%AA%E7%8E%8B%E5%A6%83%E4%B9%85%E5%AD%90 [Accessed 31 Jan. 2019].
  • Kunaicho.go.jp. (2019). Their Imperial Highnesses Prince and Princess Mikasa and their family – The Imperial Household Agency. [online] Available at: http://www.kunaicho.go.jp/e-about/activity/activity05.html [Accessed 29 Jan. 2019].

Prince Takamado of Mikasa

by Susan Flantzer
© Unofficial Royalty 2019

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Prince Takamado of Mikasa was born in Tokyo, Japan on December 29, 1954. He was the third of the three sons and the youngest of the five children of Prince Mikasa of Japan and Yuriko Takagi (Princess Mikasa). Takamado’s father Prince Mikasa was the youngest son of Emperor Taishō, the youngest brother of Emperor Hirohito (Shōwa), and the uncle of Emperor Akihito. Prince Tomohito was called “of Mikasa” because his father was given the authorization to form a new branch of the Imperial Family by Emperor Hirohito (Shōwa).  He was given the personal name Norohito. Upon his marriage, he received the title Prince Takamado (Takamado-no-miya) and authorization to start a new branch of the Imperial Family.

Prince Takamado had four elder siblings:

  • Yasuko Konoe, formerly Princess Yasuko (born 1944), married Tadateru Konoe, had one daughter; upon her marriage, Princess Yasuko had to relinquish her title from birth and her official membership in the Imperial Family
  • Prince Tomohito (1946 – 2012), married Nobuko Asō, had two daughters
  • Prince Katsura (1948 – 2014), unmarried
  • Masako Sen, formerly Princess Masako (born 1951), married Sōshitsu Sen, had two sons and one daughter; upon her marriage, Princess Masako had to relinquish her title and her official membership in the Imperial Family

Prince Takamado attended the exclusive Shoto Kindergarten in Toyko and then attended The Gakushūin or Peers School, established in 1847 to educate the children of the Japanese nobility, for his primary, secondary, and university education. He graduated with a degree in law in 1978. From 1978 to 1981, he studied at the Queen’s University Faculty of Law in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Upon returning to Japan, Prince Takamado worked from 1981 until he died in 2002 as the administrator of the Japan Foundation which promotes Japanese arts, culture, and language exchange around the world.

On April 23, 1984, Prince Takamado met Hisako Tottori, the eldest daughter of a Japanese industrialist, at a reception at the Canadian Embassy in Tokyo. The prince proposed to Hisako on May 20, 1984, and then the Imperial Household Council announced the engagement on August 1, 1984. On September 17, 1984, the formal engagement ceremony was held and the couple was married on December 6, 1984.

The couple had three daughters:

  • Princess Tsuguko (born 1986)
  • Princess Noriko (born 1988), married Kunimaro Senge, gave up her imperial title and left the Imperial Family as required by 1947 Imperial Household Law and is now known as Noriko Senge
  • Princess Ayako (born 1990), married Kei Moriya, gave up her imperial title and left the Imperial Family as required by 1947 Imperial Household Law and is now known as Ayako Moriya, has three sons
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Prince and Princess Takamodo with Prince Andrew, Duke of York at the 2002 Korea-Japan Football (soccer) World Cup Tournament

In 1987, Prince Takamado became honorary president of the Japan Football Association (soccer). In that role, Prince Takamado and his wife officially visited the Republic of Korea (South Korea) for the opening ceremonies and games during the 2002 Korea-Japan Football (soccer) World Cup Tournament. This was the first Japanese royal visit since World War II and was an important step in promoting friendly relations between Japan and South Korea.

On November 21, 2002, while playing squash with the Canadian ambassador Robert Wright at the Canadian Embassy, Prince Takamado collapsed due to ventricular fibrillation. He was immediately taken to Keio University Hospital but was already in a state of cardiopulmonary arrest. He was resuscitated but his condition then worsened and soon there was no hope that he would survive. With the consent of his wife, Prince Takamado was removed from life support and died at the age of 47.

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(Left to right) Crown Princess Masako, Crown Prince Naruhito, Princesses Ayako, Noriko and Tsuguko and their mother Princess Takamado attend the funeral ceremony for Prince Takamado

The sudden death of one of the youngest and most active members of the Japanese Imperial Family shocked the nation. Prince Takamado’s cremated remains were interred at the Toshimagaoka Imperial Cemetery in Tokyo, Japan. Since the sudden death of Prince Takamado, the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare and the Japanese Fire and Disaster Management Agency actively focused on measures to educate about ventricular fibrillation including the use and wide distribution of external defibrillators.

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Works Cited

  • En.wikipedia.org. (2019). Norihito, Prince Takamado. [online] Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norihito,_Prince_Takamado [Accessed 30 Jan. 2019].
  • Ja.wikipedia.org. (2019). 高円宮憲仁親王. [online] Available at: https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E9%AB%98%E5%86%86%E5%AE%AE%E6%86%B2%E4%BB%81%E8%A6%AA%E7%8E%8B [Accessed 30 Jan. 2019].
  • Kunaicho.go.jp. (2019). Her Imperial Highness Princess Takamado and her family – The Imperial Household Agency. [online] Available at: http://www.kunaicho.go.jp/e-about/activity/activity08.html [Accessed 30 Jan. 2019].
  • News.bbc.co.uk. (2002). BBC NEWS | World | Asia-Pacific | Japanese royals make symbolic trip to Seoul. [online] Available at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/2016376.stm [Accessed 30 Jan. 2019].
  • The Japan Times. (2002). Prince dies after collapse on embassy squash court | The Japan Times. [online] Available at: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2002/11/22/national/prince-dies-after-collapse-on-embassy-squash-court/ [Accessed 30 Jan. 2019].

Princess Tomohito of Mikasa (Nobuko Asō)

by Susan Flantzer  © Unofficial Royalty 2019

Princess Tomohito of Mikasa; Credit –  Wikipedia 

The widow of Prince Tomohito of Mikasa, Nobuko Asō, was born on April 9, 1955, in Iizuka, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan, a stronghold of the Asō family and its industrial activities. Her father, Takakichi Asō, was the chairman of the Aso Cement Company. Her mother, Kazuko Yoshida, was the daughter of Shigeru Yoshida, Prime Minister of Japan from 1946 to 1947 and from 1948 to 1954. Nobuko’s brother Tarō Asō was Prime Minister of Japan from 2008 to 2009. He also held the positions of Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Finance, and State Minister for Financial Services. Nobuko’s family is Roman Catholic, and she was baptized into the Roman Catholic Church.

Nobuko attended the exclusive Shoto Kindergarten in Tokyo and then attended primary and secondary school at the Sacred Heart School, a Roman Catholic all-girls school in Tokyo, graduating in 1971. For university, Nobuko went to England where she attended Rosslyn House College in Walton-on-Thames. After her graduation in 1974, she returned to Japan, where she taught English at the Shoto Kindergarten, which she had attended.

Prince and Princess Tomohito; Credit – http://www.kunaicho.go.jp

While studying in England, Nabuko met Prince Tomohito of Mikasa, who was studying at Magdalen College, University of Oxford. Prince Tomohito was the eldest of the three sons and the second of the five children of Prince Mikasa of Japan and Yuriko Takagi (Princess Mikasa). Tomohito’s father, Prince Mikasa, was the youngest son of Emperor Taishō, the youngest brother of Emperor Hirohito (Shōwa), and the uncle of Emperor Akihito. Prince Tomohito first proposed marriage to the 18-year-old Nobuko in 1973 but was turned down because of her young age. Finally, on April 18, 1980, the engagement of Prince Tomohito of Mikasa and Nobuko Asō was announced. The formal engagement ceremony was held on May 21, 1980, and the wedding ceremony took place on November 7, 1980. After her marriage, Nobuko was styled Princess Tomohito of Mikasa.

The couple had two daughters:

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Along with her husband, Princess Tomohito supported many Japanese and international organizations dealing with cancer research and the welfare of people with physical or mental disabilities. Princess Tomohiti has served as President of the Tokyo Jikeikai, a foundation to fund the Tokyo Jikeikai Hospital and the Jikeikai University School of Medicine. Princess Tomohito is the Honorary President of the Japan Rose Society and like all Imperial Family princesses, is an Honorary Vice President of the Japanese Red Cross. The princess is an excellent cook and has published two cookbooks.

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Princess Tomohito’s daughters attend their father’s funeral: From left to right- Crown Princess Masako, Crown Prince Naruhito, Princess Yoko and Princess Akiko

The Princess’ husband, Prince Tomohito, developed serious health issues. In 1991, he was diagnosed with esophageal cancer, which went into remission. Over the years, he was treated sixteen times for various forms of cancer, including larynx cancer, throat cancer, and recurrences of the cancers.

In 2007, Prince Tomohito made a public announcement that he was an alcoholic. From 2010 to 2012, he was quite ill and often hospitalized. On June 6, 2012, Prince Tomohito died at the age of 66 at the hospital at Sasaki Institute Kyoundo Hospital in Tokyo, Japan, from multiple organ failure due to the cancers. After taking some time off after the death of her husband, Princess Tomohito finally returned to her commitments in November 2013.

Princess Tomohito was diagnosed with stage one breast cancer in November 2022. After undergoing surgery, it was discovered that her breast cancer was at stage 0, and not at stage 1. She received radiation therapy, and her doctors confirmed that her recovery was going well and that the chances of cancer recurrence were very low.

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Works Cited

  • En.wikipedia.org. (2019). Princess Tomohito of Mikasa. [online] Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Princess_Tomohito_of_Mikasa [Accessed 29 Jan. 2019].
  • Kunaicho.go.jp. (2019). Their Imperial Highnesses Prince and Princess Mikasa and their family – The Imperial Household Agency. [online] Available at: http://www.kunaicho.go.jp/e-about/activity/activity05.html [Accessed 29 Jan. 2019].
  • Ja.wikipedia.org. (2019). 寛仁親王妃信子. [online] Available at: https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%AF%9B%E4%BB%81%E8%A6%AA%E7%8E%8B%E5%A6%83%E4%BF%A1%E5%AD%90 [Accessed 29 Jan. 2019].

Prince Tomohito of Mikasa (Japan)

by Susan Flantzer  © Unofficial Royalty 2019

Prince Tomohito of Mikasa; Credit – Wikipedia

Prince Tomohito of Mikasa was born on January 5, 1946, at his father’s home in Hayama, Kanagawa, Japan. He was the eldest of the three sons and the second of the five children of Prince Mikasa of Japan and Yuriko Takagi (Princess Mikasa). Tomohito’s father Prince Mikasa was the youngest son of Emperor Taishō, the youngest brother of Emperor Hirohito (Shōwa), and the uncle of Emperor Akihito. Prince Tomohito was called “of Mikasa” because his father was given the authorization to form a new branch of the Imperial Family by Emperor Hirohito (Shōwa).

Prince Tomohito had four siblings:

  • Yasuko Konoe, formerly Princess Yasuko (born 1944), married Tadateru Konoe, had one daughter; upon her marriage, Princess Yasuko had to relinquish her title from birth and her official membership in the Imperial Family
  • Prince Katsura (1948 – 2014), unmarried
  • Masako Sen, formerly Princess Masako (born 1951), married Sōshitsu Sen, had two sons and one daughter; upon her marriage, Princess Masako had to relinquish her title from birth and her official membership in the Imperial Family
  • Prince Takamado (1954 – 2002), married Hisako Tottori, had three daughters

Left to right: Prince Tomohito, his mother Princess Mikasa, his brother Prince Yoshihito, and his sister Princess Yasuko; Credit – Wikipedia

Prince Tomohito was educated from kindergarten to university at The Gakushūin or Peers School, established in 1847 to educate the children of the Japanese nobility. In 1968, he graduated from Gakushuin University with a Bachelor’s degree in political science. He then studied at Magdalen College, University of Oxford, in the United Kingdom from 1968 – 1970.

When Prince Tomohito returned to Japan in 1970, he lived in Sapporo and worked as a staff member of the 1972 Sapporo Winter Olympics Organizing Committee. He later worked to help organize the Okinawa International Maritime Exposition World Maritime Youth Convention. Over the years, Prince Tomohito was frustrated by the restrictions placed upon him as a member of the Imperial Family. Prince Tomohito was the first member of the Imperial Family with a full beard since Emperor Meiji, earning him the nickname the “Bearded Prince”.

Prince and Princess Tomohito; Credit – http://www.kunaicho.go.jp

While studying at the University of Oxford, Prince Tomohito met Nobuko Asō who was studying at Rosslyn House College in Walton-on-Thames. He first proposed marriage to the 18-year-old Nobuko in 1973 but was turned down because of her young age. Finally, on April 18, 1980, the engagement of Prince Tomohito of Mikasa and Nobuko Asō was announced. The formal engagement ceremony was held on May 21, 1980, and the wedding ceremony took place on November 7, 1980.

The couple had two daughters:

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Prince Tomohito had serious health issues. In 1991, he was diagnosed with esophageal cancer which went into remission. Over the years, he was treated sixteen times for various forms of cancer including larynx cancer, throat cancer, and recurrences of the cancers. After his cancer diagnosis, he supported many Japanese and international organizations dealing with cancer research and the promotion of the welfare of people with physical or mental disabilities.

Although attempts were made to save his voice, eventually he could only speak aided by a mechanical larynx.  In 2007, Prince Tomohito made a public announcement that he was an alcoholic. From 2010 – 2012, he was quite ill and often hospitalized. On June 6, 2012, Prince Tomohito died at the age of 66 at Sasaki Institute Kyoundo Hospital in Tokyo, Japan from multiple organ failure due to the cancers. His cremated remains were interred at the Toshimagaoka Imperial Cemetery in Tokyo, Japan.

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Works Cited

  • En.wikipedia.org. (2019). Prince Tomohito of Mikasa. [online] Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince_Tomohito_of_Mikasa [Accessed 29 Jan. 2019].
  • Web.archive.org. (2012). Prince Tomohito’s funeral draws 660 luminaries | The Japan Times Online. [online] Available at: https://web.archive.org/web/20120719001152/http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20120615a5.html [Accessed 29 Jan. 2019].
  • Ja.wikipedia.org. (2019). 寛仁親王. [online] Available at: https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%AF%9B%E4%BB%81%E8%A6%AA%E7%8E%8B [Accessed 29 Jan. 2019].

Princess Mikasa of Japan (Yuriko Takagi)

by Susan Flantzer  © Unofficial Royalty 2019

Princess Mikasa of Japan, born Yuriko Takagi; Credit – Wikipedia

Princess Mikasa was the wife of Prince Mikasa of Japan, the youngest son of Emperor Taishō, the brother of Emperor Shōwa (Hirohito), and the uncle of Emperor Akihito. Born Yuriko Takagi on June 4, 1923, at her family home in Tokyo, Japan, she was the daughter of Viscount Masanari Takagi, a member of the Japanese nobility and a renowned entomologist, and his wife Kuniko Irie, a second cousin of Emperor Hirohito. In 1928, Yuriko began her education at the Girls School of The Gakushūin or Peers School, graduating in 1941.

On October 3, 1941, 18-year-old Yuriko was officially engaged to Prince Mikasa. The couple was married on October 22, 1941, and Yuriko was known as Princess Mikasa after her marriage. Prince and Princess Mikasa lived on the grounds of the Akasaka Palace in Tokyo.

Princess Mikasa and her three elder children, circa 1950; Credit – Wikipedia

The couple had three sons and two daughters. All three sons predeceased their parents.

  • Yasuko Konoe, formerly Princess Yasuko (born 1944), married Tadateru Konoe, had one daughter; upon her marriage, Princess Yasuko had to relinquish her title from birth and her official membership in the Imperial Family
  • Prince Tomohito (1946 – 2012), married Nobuko Asō, had two daughters
  • Prince Katsura (1948 – 2014), unmarried
  • Masako Sen, formerly Princess Masako (born 1951), married Sōshitsu Sen, had two sons and one daughter; upon her marriage, Princess Masako had to relinquish her title from birth and her official membership in the Imperial Family
  • Prince Takamado (1954 – 2002), married Hisako Tottori, had three daughters
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Prince and Princess Mikasa

In 1948, Princess Mikasa became President of the Imperial Gift Foundation Boshi-Aiiku-kai, an organization promoting the health and well-being of mothers and children. She remained President until 2010. Like other Imperial Family princesses, she was an Honorary Vice-President of the Japanese Red Cross Society. Princess Mikasa served as a reserve member of the Imperial Household Council which deals with statutory matters of the Imperial House of Japan. In this role, she participated in debates that focused on the approval of the marriage of Crown Prince Naruhito and Masako Owada.

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Prince Mikasa and Princess Mikasa wave to well-wishers gathered for the annual New Year’s greetings at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on January 2, 2016

Princess Mikasa’s husband died on October 27, 2016, at the age of 100, a little more than a month before his 101st birthday. At the time of his death, he was the world’s oldest royal and the longest-lived member of the Japanese Imperial Family. Five days before Prince Mikasa’s death, he and his wife celebrated their 75th wedding anniversary in his hospital room.

Yuriko, Princess Mikasa survived her husband by eight years, dying of old age, on November 15, 2024, at St. Luke’s International Hospital in Tokyo, Japan aged 101. She was surrounded by her granddaughters Princess Akiko, Princess Yōko, and Princess Tsuguko, and her daughter-in-law Princess Hisako.

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Works Cited

  • En.wikipedia.org. (2019). Yuriko, Princess Mikasa. [online] Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yuriko,_Princess_Mikasa [Accessed 29 Jan. 2019].
  • Es.wikipedia.org. (2019). Princesa Mikasa. [online] Available at: https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Princesa_Mikasa [Accessed 29 Jan. 2019].
  • Fr.wikipedia.org. (2019). Yuriko Takagi. [online] Available at: https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yuriko_Takagi [Accessed 29 Jan. 2019].
  • Ja.wikipedia.org. (2019). 崇仁親王妃百合子. [online] Available at: https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%B4%87%E4%BB%81%E8%A6%AA%E7%8E%8B%E5%A6%83%E7%99%BE%E5%90%88%E5%AD%90 [Accessed 29 Jan. 2019].

Empress Teimei of Japan (Lady Sadako Kujō)

by Susan Flantzer  © Unofficial Royalty 2019

Empress Teimei of Japan; Credit – Wikipedia

Empress Teimei is the posthumous name of the wife of Emperor Taishō of Japan also known as Yoshihito.  Born Lady Sadako Kujō on June 25, 1884, in Tokyo, Japan, she was the fourth daughter of Prince Michitaka Kujō, head of the five senior branches of the Fujiwara clan and a court noble and politician who served as a member of the House of Peers. Sadako was educated at the Kuroku Girls School which later became the Gakushuin Women’s College, part of the Gakushūin School Corporation, established to educate the children of Japan’s nobility. She grew up as a healthy child in a country atmosphere.

Emperor Meiji’s son and heir Yoshihito, the future Emperor Taishō, had cerebral meningitis when he was three weeks old and this affected his health and his mental capacity, including a speech disorder and difficulty walking, for the rest of his life. Due to his health issues, he was often unable to continue his studies, and he was a poor student in areas requiring higher-level thinking. Because of Yoshihito’s diminished mental capacity, Emperor Meiji wanted an intelligent, articulate, and dignified wife for his son, and he found those qualities in Sadako. On May 10, 1900, 15-year-old Sadako married 20-year-old Yoshihito and became the Crown Princess of Japan.

Yoshihito in 1900, on his wedding day; Credit – Wikipedia

Sadako on her wedding day in 1900; Credit – Wikipedia 

The couple resided in the newly constructed Akasaka Palace in Tokyo, now the official accommodation for visiting state dignitaries.  In 1901, when Sadako gave birth to the first of her four sons, Prince Hirohito (the future Emperor Shōwa), she became the first official wife of a Crown Prince or Emperor to give birth to the official heir to the throne since 1750. Sadako and Yoshihito had a happy marriage as evidenced by Yoshihito not taking any concubines, breaking with hundreds of years of imperial tradition.

Akasaka Palace; Credit – https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/45/State_Guest_House_Akasaka_Palace_main_entrance.jpg/1920px-State_Guest_House_Akasaka_Palace_main_entrance.jpg

Sadako and Yoshihito had four sons:

Sadako’s four sons in 1921: Hirohito, Mikasa, Takamatsu, and Chichibu; Credit – Wikipedia

Emperor Meiji died on July 30, 1912, and Yoshihito became Emperor of Japan. He is known by his posthumous name Taishō. Because of Emperor Taishō’s weak physical and mental condition, Sadako exerted a strong influence during his reign. Emperor Taishō was kept out of public view as much as possible because of his mental incapacity. Within a few years, it became apparent that he could not carry out any public functions, participate in daily government matters, or make decisions. This was all left to his ministers and his son Crown Prince Hirohito. Finally, Crown Prince Hirohito was named Prince Regent on November 25, 1921.

The Empress with her son Crown Prince Hirohito during the 1922 visit of Edward, Prince of Wales (the future King Edward VIII of the United Kingdom) to Japan; Credit – Wikipedia

Emperor Taishō died of a heart attack on December 25, 1926, at the age of 47 and his son Hirohito succeeded him as Emperor. After her husband’s death, Sadako’s title became Dowager Empress (Kōtaigō) which means “widow of the former emperor”. The Empress strongly objected to Japan’s involvement in World War II, causing a conflict with her son. From 1943, she worked secretly with her third son Prince Takamatsu to bring about the downfall of Prime Minister Hideki Tōjō who was eventually sentenced to death for war crimes and hanged in 1948.

The Dowager Empress with her grandson Crown Prince Akihito, the future Emperor Akihito; Credit – Wikipedia

On May 17, 1951, the Empress died at Omiya Palace in Tokyo at the age of 66. She was buried near her husband Emperor Taishō at the Musashi Imperial Graveyard in Hachiōji, Tokyo, Japan.

Burial Site of Empress Teimei; Credit – Wikipedia

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

State of Japan Resources at Unofficial Royalty

Works Cited

  • En.wikipedia.org. (2018). Empress Teimei. [online] Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empress_Teimei [Accessed 24 Oct. 2018].
  • Flantzer, S. (2018). Emperor Taishō of Japan (Yoshihito). [online] Unofficial Royalty. Available at: https://www.unofficialroyalty.com/emperor-taisho-of-japan-yoshihito/ [Accessed 24 Oct. 2018].
  • Ja.wikipedia.org. (2018). 貞明皇后. [online] Available at: https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E8%B2%9E%E6%98%8E%E7%9A%87%E5%90%8E [Accessed 24 Oct. 2018].

Emperor Taishō of Japan (Yoshihito)

by Susan Flantzer  © Unofficial Royalty 2019

Emperor Taishō in 1912; Credit – Wikipedia

Emperor Taishō was born on August 31, 1879, at Tōgū Palace in Akasaka, Tokyo, Japan. His mother, Lady Naruko Yanagihara, was a concubine to his father Emperor Meiji and the daughter of imperial chamberlain Mitsunaru Yanagihara and was the last concubine to give birth to a Japanese emperor. He was given the childhood name Haru-no-miya and the personal name Yoshihito.

Emperor Meiji, Yoshihito’s father; Credit – Wikipedia

Yoshihito’s mother, Lady Naruko Yanagihara; Credit – Wikipedia

Emperor Meiji’s wife, known posthumously as Empress Shōken, had no children. However, Emperor Meiji had fifteen children by five official ladies-in-waiting but only five children survived to adulthood so Yoshihito had four half-siblings. The Empress officially adopted Yoshihito, her husband’s eldest surviving son by a concubine, as was the custom.

Yoshihito had four half-sisters, all born to Lady Sachiko Sono, one of Emperor Meiji’s five concubines:

Three weeks after his birth, Yoshihito suffered from cerebral meningitis and this affected his health and his mental capacity, including a speech disorder and difficulty walking, for the rest of his life. Until he was seven-years-old, Yoshihito was raised in the household of Tadayasu Nakayama, a Japanese nobleman and courtier, who had also raised his father Emperor Meiji.

Yoshihito in 1892; Credit – Wikipedia

On August 31, 1887, Yoshihito was officially declared heir to the throne and was then invested as Crown Prince on November 3, 1888. Eight-year-old Yoshihito entered the Gakushūin or Peers School in Tokyo, established to educate the children of the nobility, in September 1887. However, due to his health issues, he was often unable to continue his studies. Yoshihito spent much of his childhood at the seaside Imperial villas at Hayama and Numazu for health reasons. He did show some skill in some areas, such as horse riding but he was a poor student in areas requiring higher-level thinking. Because of this, Yoshihito eventually completely withdrew from Gakushūin in 1894. He had an aptitude for languages and received private tutoring in French, Chinese, and history. In 1898, Yoshihito began to attend sessions of the House of Peers of the Diet of Japan (legislature) to learn about the political and military concerns of the country.

Yoshihito in 1900, on his wedding day; Credit – Wikipedia

Sadako on her wedding day in 1900; Credit – Wikipedia

Yoshihito married 15-year-old Lady Sadako Kujō (Empress Teimei), daughter of Prince Michitaka Kujō, the head of the five senior branches of the Fujiwara clan, on May 10, 1900. Because of Yoshihito’s diminished mental capacity, Emperor Meiji wanted an intelligent, articulate, and dignified wife for his son, and he found those qualities in Sadako.

Wedding of Crown Prince Yoshihito and Princess Sadako Kujō; Credit – Wikipedia

Yoshihito did not have any concubines and he and his wife had four sons:

Emperor Taishō’s four sons in 1921: Hirohito, Mikasa, Takamatsu & Chichibu; Credit – Wikipedia

Emperor Meiji died on July 30, 1912, and Yoshihito became Emperor of Japan. He is known by his posthumous name Taishō. Emperor Taishō was kept out of public view as much as possible because of his mental incapacity. Within a few years, it became apparent that he could not carry out any public functions, participate in daily government matters, or make decisions. This was all left to his ministers and his son Crown Prince Hirohito. Finally, Crown Prince Hirohito was named Prince Regent on November 25, 1921.

In early December 1926, it was announced that the Emperor had pneumonia. Emperor Taishō died of a heart attack on December 25, 1926, at the Hayama Imperial Villa in Hayama, Japan at the age of 47. He was buried at the Musashi Imperial Graveyard in Hachiōji, Tokyo, Japan.

Burial Site of Emperor Taishō; Credit – Staka – Own work, CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3469393

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

State of Japan Resources at Unofficial Royalty

Works Cited

  • De.wikipedia.org. (2018). Taishō. [online] Available at: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taish%C5%8D [Accessed 23 Oct. 2018].
  • En.wikipedia.org. (2018). Emperor Taishō. [online] Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emperor_Taish%C5%8D [Accessed 23 Oct. 2018].
  • Ja.wikipedia.org. (2018). 大正天皇. [online] Available at: https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%A4%A7%E6%AD%A3%E5%A4%A9%E7%9A%87 [Accessed 23 Oct. 2018].

Empress Shōken of Japanss , born Lady Masako Ichijō

by Susan Flantzer  © Unofficial Royalty 2019

Empress Shōken of Japan; Credit – Wikipedia

Empress Shōken is the posthumous name of the wife of Emperor Meiji of Japan.  Born Lady Masako Ichijō on May 9, 1849, in Heian-kyō, Japan, she was the third daughter of Tadaka Ichijō, a government minister and the head of the Ichijō branch of the Fujiwara clan. As a child, Empress Shōken was considered very bright, due to her ability to read and write traditional Japanese poetry at an early age. She also studied classical Chinese, Japanese calligraphy, the koto (the traditional Japanese stringed musical instrument), Noh drama (classical Japanese musical drama), ikebana (the Japanese art of flower arrangement), and the Japanese tea ceremony.

On January 30, 1867, 36-year-old Emperor Kōmei suddenly became seriously ill and died. His 14-year-old son succeeded him and is now known by his posthumous name Emperor Meiji. Soon after his accession, the Emperor’s officials suggested Lady Masako Ichijō as a possible bride. The Emperor was three years younger than the prospective bride, and this was considered an obstacle to the marriage. However, this problem was resolved by changing the bride’s official birth year from 1849 to 1850.

Emperor Meiji in 1872; Credit – Wikipedia

Lady Masako Ichijō became engaged to Emperor Meiji on September 2, 1867, and she adopted the given name Haruko. The wedding was delayed until January 11, 1869, after the Emperor had his genpuku (coming of age ceremony). The new Empress would be the first Empress Consort of Japan to play a public role, but sadly, she had no children. Emperor Meiji had fifteen children by five official ladies-in-waiting, but only five children survived to adulthood. The Empress officially adopted Yoshihito, her husband’s eldest surviving son by a concubine, as was the custom. Yoshihito succeeded his father as Emperor and is known as Emperor Taishō, his posthumous name.

Since 1185, a shogun, a military dictator appointed by the Emperor, had been the de facto ruler of Japan. However, in 1868, the last shogun had lost power, and in the name and with the support of Emperor Meiji, a new, more Western-oriented upper class initiated the modernization of Japan known as the Meiji Restoration. Some of the modernizations affected the Empress and the ladies of the court. The Emperor insisted that the Empress and the ladies of the court attend regular lectures on conditions in Japan and events and developments abroad. Starting in 1886, the Empress and her court wore only Western-style clothing during public appearances.

The Empress also acted as hostess to foreign visitors, including the former American President Ulysses S. Grant and his wife Julia, King Kalākaua of Hawaii, and Prince Albert Victor and Prince George (the future King George V) of the United Kingdom, the sons of King Edward VII.

Empress Shōken teaching children to read (1887); Credit – Wikipedia

It became the usual practice that the Empress Shōken would accompany the Emperor on official visits to cities in Japan, schools, factories, and military bases. The Empress became well-known for supporting charities that promoted the education of women. During the First Sino-Japanese War, she was involved in founding the Japanese Red Cross. The work of the Red Cross during peacetime was of particular concern to her, so she set up a fund for the International Red Cross, later named The Empress Shōken Fund. This fund is still in existence and according to its website, it is used for “peacetime activities of National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies around the world. The fund has helped improve the quality of life and resilience of vulnerable people through disaster response operations, as well as long-term development programs such as disaster risk reduction, disaster preparedness, health, and other community-based activities.”

Emperor Meiji died on July 30, 1912, at the Meiji Palace in Tokyo, at the age of 59. He had suffered from diabetes, nephritis, and gastroenteritis, and died of uremia. He was buried at the East Mound of the Fushimi Momoyama Ryo in Kyoto, Japan. After her husband’s death, Empress Shōken was granted the title Empress Dowager by Emperor Taishō. The Empress survived her husband by less than two years, dying on April 9, 1914, at the age of 64 at the Imperial Villa in Numazu, Shizuoka, Japan. She was buried in the East Mound of the Fushimi Momoyama Ryo in Fushimi, Kyoto, Japan, next to Emperor Meiji. Her soul, along with the soul of Emperor Meiji, was enshrined in Meiji Shrine in Tokyo, Japan.

Burial Mound of Emperor Meiji and Empress Shōken; Credit – Wikipedia

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

State of Japan Resources at Unofficial Royalty

Works Cited

  • De.wikipedia.org. (2018). Shōken. [online] Available at: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sh%C5%8Dken [Accessed 22 Oct. 2018].
  • En.wikipedia.org. (2018). Empress Shōken. [online] Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empress_Sh%C5%8Dken [Accessed 22 Oct. 2018].
  • Flantzer, S. (2018). Emperor Meiji of Japan (Mutsuhito). [online] Unofficial Royalty. Available at: https://www.unofficialroyalty.com/emperor-meiji-of-japan-mutsuhito/ [Accessed 22 Oct. 2018].
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  • Ja.wikipedia.org. (2018). 昭憲皇太后. [online] Available at: https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%98%AD%E6%86%B2%E7%9A%87%E5%A4%AA%E5%90%8E [Accessed 22 Oct. 2018].