Atsuko Ikeda
Encyclopedia
, is the wife of Marquis Takamasa Ikeda ( 21 October 1927 - ) and fourth daughter of Emperor Shōwa
and Empress Kōjun
. As such, she is the older sister to the present Emperor of Japan, Emperor Akihito.
As with her elder sisters, she was not raised by her biological parents, but by a succession of court ladies at a separate palace built for her and her elder sisters in the Marunouchi
district of Tokyo
. She graduated from the Gakushuin
Peer’s School, and was also tutored along with her siblings in English language
by an American tutor, Elizabeth Grey Vining during the American occupation of Japan
following World War II
. She graduated Gakushuin University Women's College in March 1952.
On 10 October 1952, Princess Yori married Ikeda Takamasa, the eldest son of former Marquis
Nobumasa Ikeda and a direct descendant of the last daimyō
of Okayama Domain
, whom she had met at a Japanese tea ceremony
at Kōraku-en
gardens. The couple were engaged after only six months, but wedding plans had to be postponed due to the death of Empress Teimei in 1951 and subsequent period of mourning. Upon her marriage, Princess Yori became the second daughter of an emperor to relinquish her status as a member of the Japanese imperial family
and become a commoner upon marriage, in accordance with the 1947 Imperial Household Law
.
The former princess relocated to Okayama Prefecture
, where her husband, a wealthy cattle rancher, has served as director of the Ikeda Zoo outside of Okayama city
for over fifty years.
In 1965, she was hospitalized with sepsis
, which was a cause of great concern for the Imperial Family, as her elder sister Shigeko Higashikuni
had already died of stomach cancer
.
In October 1988, Ikeda succeeded her ailing elder sister, Kazuko Takatsukasa
, as the most sacred priestess (saishu) of the Ise Shrine
. She also serves as the Chairperson of the Association of Shinto Shrines
.
The Ikedas have no children.
Hirohito
, posthumously in Japan officially called Emperor Shōwa or , was the 124th Emperor of Japan according to the traditional order, reigning from December 25, 1926, until his death in 1989. Although better known outside of Japan by his personal name Hirohito, in Japan he is now referred to...
and Empress Kōjun
Empress Kojun
' was empress consort of Emperor Hirohito of Japan. Born , she was the mother of the present Emperor .Her posthumous name is Kōjun, which means "fragrant purity"...
. As such, she is the older sister to the present Emperor of Japan, Emperor Akihito.
Biography
Princess Atsuko was born at the Tokyo Imperial Palace. Her childhood appellation was .As with her elder sisters, she was not raised by her biological parents, but by a succession of court ladies at a separate palace built for her and her elder sisters in the Marunouchi
Marunouchi
Marunouchi is a commercial district of Tokyo located in Chiyoda between Tokyo Station and the Imperial Palace. The name, meaning "inside the circle", derives from its location within the palace's outer moat...
district of Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
. She graduated from the Gakushuin
Gakushuin
The or Peers School is an educational institution founded in Tokyo in 1877, during the Meiji period, for the education of the children of the Japanese aristocracy, though it eventually also opened its doors to the offspring of extremely wealthy commoners...
Peer’s School, and was also tutored along with her siblings in English language
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
by an American tutor, Elizabeth Grey Vining during the American occupation of Japan
Occupied Japan
At the end of World War II, Japan was occupied by the Allied Powers, led by the United States with contributions also from Australia, India, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. This foreign presence marked the first time in its history that the island nation had been occupied by a foreign power...
following World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. She graduated Gakushuin University Women's College in March 1952.
On 10 October 1952, Princess Yori married Ikeda Takamasa, the eldest son of former Marquis
Marquis
Marquis is a French and Scottish title of nobility. The English equivalent is Marquess, while in German, it is Markgraf.It may also refer to:Persons:...
Nobumasa Ikeda and a direct descendant of the last daimyō
Daimyo
is a generic term referring to the powerful territorial lords in pre-modern Japan who ruled most of the country from their vast, hereditary land holdings...
of Okayama Domain
Okayama Domain
The ' was a Japanese feudal domain of the Edo period, located in modern-day Okayama Prefecture. The domain sided with the Kyoto government during the Boshin War.-List of Daimyo:*Kobayakawa clan, 1600-1602 #Hideaki...
, whom she had met at a Japanese tea ceremony
Japanese tea ceremony
The Japanese tea ceremony, also called the Way of Tea, is a Japanese cultural activity involving the ceremonial preparation and presentation of matcha, powdered green tea. In Japanese, it is called . The manner in which it is performed, or the art of its performance, is called...
at Kōraku-en
Koraku-en
, is a Japanese garden located in Okayama, Okayama Prefecture. It is one of the Three Great Gardens of Japan, along with Kenroku-en and Kairaku-en. Korakuen was built in 1700 by Ikeda Tsunamasa, lord of Okayama. The garden's form almost had turned into the modern form in 1863.- History :In 1687,...
gardens. The couple were engaged after only six months, but wedding plans had to be postponed due to the death of Empress Teimei in 1951 and subsequent period of mourning. Upon her marriage, Princess Yori became the second daughter of an emperor to relinquish her status as a member of the Japanese imperial family
Imperial House of Japan
The , also referred to as the Imperial Family or the Yamato Dynasty, comprises those members of the extended family of the reigning Emperor of Japan who undertake official and public duties. Under the present Constitution of Japan, the emperor is the symbol of the state and unity of the people...
and become a commoner upon marriage, in accordance with the 1947 Imperial Household Law
Imperial Household Law
is a statute in Japanese law that governs the line of imperial succession, the membership of the imperial family, and several other matters pertaining to the administration of the Imperial Household.-Passage of the Law:...
.
The former princess relocated to Okayama Prefecture
Okayama Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūgoku region on Honshū island. The capital is the city of Okayama.- History :During the Meiji Restoration, the area of Okayama Prefecture was known as Bitchū Province, Bizen Province and Mimasaka Province.- Geography :...
, where her husband, a wealthy cattle rancher, has served as director of the Ikeda Zoo outside of Okayama city
Okayama, Okayama
is the capital city of Okayama Prefecture in the Chūgoku region of Japan.The city was founded on June 1, 1889. As of August 2010, the city has an estimated population of 705,224 and a population density of 893 persons per km². The total area is 789.88 km²....
for over fifty years.
In 1965, she was hospitalized with sepsis
Sepsis
Sepsis is a potentially deadly medical condition that is characterized by a whole-body inflammatory state and the presence of a known or suspected infection. The body may develop this inflammatory response by the immune system to microbes in the blood, urine, lungs, skin, or other tissues...
, which was a cause of great concern for the Imperial Family, as her elder sister Shigeko Higashikuni
Shigeko Higashikuni
was the wife of Prince Higashikuni Morihiro and eldest daughter of Emperor Shōwa and Empress Kōjun. As such, she was the elder sister to the present Emperor of Japan, Emperor Akihito.-Biography:...
had already died of stomach cancer
Stomach cancer
Gastric cancer, commonly referred to as stomach cancer, can develop in any part of the stomach and may spread throughout the stomach and to other organs; particularly the esophagus, lungs, lymph nodes, and the liver...
.
In October 1988, Ikeda succeeded her ailing elder sister, Kazuko Takatsukasa
Kazuko Takatsukasa
-External links:***...
, as the most sacred priestess (saishu) of the Ise Shrine
Ise Shrine
is a Shinto shrine dedicated to goddess Amaterasu-ōmikami, located in the city of Ise in Mie prefecture, Japan. Officially known simply as , Ise Jingū is in fact a shrine complex composed of a large number of Shinto shrines centered on two main shrines, and ....
. She also serves as the Chairperson of the Association of Shinto Shrines
Association of Shinto Shrines
The is a religious administrative organization that oversees about 80,000 Shinto shrines in Japan. These shrines take the Ise Shrine as the foundation of their belief.The Association has five major activities:...
.
The Ikedas have no children.
Ancestry
| Atsuko, Princess Yori | Father: Hirohito, Emperor Shōwa Hirohito , posthumously in Japan officially called Emperor Shōwa or , was the 124th Emperor of Japan according to the traditional order, reigning from December 25, 1926, until his death in 1989. Although better known outside of Japan by his personal name Hirohito, in Japan he is now referred to... |
Paternal Grandfather: Yoshihito, Emperor Taishō Emperor Taishō The was the 123rd emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession, reigning from 30 July 1912, until his death in 1926.The Emperor’s personal name was . According to Japanese customs, the emperor has no name during his reign and is only called the Emperor... |
Paternal Great-grandfather: Mutsuhito, Emperor Meiji Emperor Meiji The or was the 122nd emperor of Japan according to the traditional order of succession, reigning from 3 February 1867 until his death... |
| Paternal Great-grandmother: Adopted: Haruko, Empress Shōken; Biological: Lady Yanagihara Naruko, concubine |
|||
| Paternal Grandmother: Princess Sadako of the Fujiwara Clan, Empress Teimei |
Paternal Great-grandfather: Prince Kujō Michitaka of the Fujiwara Clan |
||
| Paternal Great-grandmother: Lady Noma Ikuko, concubine |
|||
| Mother: Nagako, Empress Kōjun Empress Kojun ' was empress consort of Emperor Hirohito of Japan. Born , she was the mother of the present Emperor .Her posthumous name is Kōjun, which means "fragrant purity"... |
Maternal Grandfather: Imperial Prince Kuniyoshi Kuni |
Maternal Great-grandfather: Prince Kuni Asahiko Prince Kuni Asahiko align=right|, was a member of a collateral line of the Japanese imperial family who played a key role in the Meiji Restoration. Prince Asahiko was an adopted son of Emperor Ninkō and later a close advisor to Emperor Kōmei and Emperor Meiji... |
|
| Maternal Great-grandmother: Lady Isume Makiko, concubine |
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| Maternal Grandmother: Princess Shimazu Chikako of Satsuma |
Maternal Great-grandfather: Prince Shimazu Tadayoshi, 29th and last Daimyo of Satsuma, Osumi and Hyuga |
||
| Maternal Great-grandmother: Lady Hiro Sumako, concubine |
Sources
- Foreign Affairs Association of Japan, The Japan Year Book (Tokyo: Kenkyusha Press, 1939–40, 1941–42, 1944–45, 1945–46, 1947–48).
- Takie Sugiyama Lebra, Above the Clouds: Status Culture of the Modern Japanese Nobility (Berkeley: University of California Press, 1992).
- "Hirohito's Daughter Wed: Princess Yori Married to Tokyo Commoner by Shinto Rites," New York Times 10 October 1952.