Mitsuko Aoyama
Encyclopedia
Mitsuko, Countess of Coudenhove-Kalergi , formerly known as , was one of the first Japanese people to emigrate to Europe, after becoming the wife of an Austrian diplomat
, Heinrich von Coudenhove-Kalergi
, in Tokyo
. She was the mother of Richard Nikolaus Graf von Coudenhove-Kalergi.
(as a commoner Mitsuko would never have been granted such an audience, but as a countess and ambassador's wife she was) and again on the end of Heinrich's diplomatic work shortly afterwards.
The couple then returned to Europe, where Mitsuko and their two sons Johannes and Richard took over management of the family estates in Bohemian Ronsperg
. Once established, Mitsuko learned French, German, math, geography and history in an attempt to counter the hostility to Heinrich concerning his return with a foreign wife. Five more children would be born to Heinrich and Mitsuko. Heinrich died in 1906 and Mitsuko took over the estates and the children's upbringing and education, while studying law and economics herself. Mitsuko never again returned to Japan and when she died in 1941 she was buried in the Hietzinger Cemetery
.
.
Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary , more formally known as the Kingdoms and Lands Represented in the Imperial Council and the Lands of the Holy Hungarian Crown of Saint Stephen, was a constitutional monarchic union between the crowns of the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Hungary in...
, Heinrich von Coudenhove-Kalergi
Heinrich von Coudenhove-Kalergi
Heinrich Johann Maria von Coudenhove-Kalergi , also known as Heinrich Coudenhove-Kalergi and until 1903 Graf von Coudenhove, was an Austrian traveller and diplomat of the Coudenhove-Kalergi family. He was born in Vienna and died in Poběžovice...
, in 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 was the mother of Richard Nikolaus Graf von Coudenhove-Kalergi.
Life
The daughter of an antiques-dealer and oil tycoon in Tokyo, aged 17 she met the Austro-Hungarian diplomat Dr. Count Heinrich von Coudenhove-Kalergi when she came to help him when his horse slipped on ice (Heinrich often visited her father's shop, not far from the Austrian legation). Heinrich gained her father's permission for her to be employed as a parlour maid in the legation and then (after they fell in love) for them to marry. The latter request was refused, but the couple defied him, marrying on 16 March 1892 in Tokyo with the consent of the Austrian and Japanese foreign ministries. This left her disinherited and banned from her father's house. In 1896 she was received at an imperial reception for foreign diplomats' wives by Empress EishōEmpress Eisho
was the empress consort of Emperor Kōmei of Japan. She is also known under the technically incorrect name .- Early life :As the daughter of Kujō Hisatada, who was a former kampaku, Kujō Asako could anticipate a life unfolding entirely within the ambit of the Imperial court; but she could not have...
(as a commoner Mitsuko would never have been granted such an audience, but as a countess and ambassador's wife she was) and again on the end of Heinrich's diplomatic work shortly afterwards.
The couple then returned to Europe, where Mitsuko and their two sons Johannes and Richard took over management of the family estates in Bohemian Ronsperg
Pobežovice
Poběžovice is a town in the Czech Republic.-External links:*...
. Once established, Mitsuko learned French, German, math, geography and history in an attempt to counter the hostility to Heinrich concerning his return with a foreign wife. Five more children would be born to Heinrich and Mitsuko. Heinrich died in 1906 and Mitsuko took over the estates and the children's upbringing and education, while studying law and economics herself. Mitsuko never again returned to Japan and when she died in 1941 she was buried in the Hietzinger Cemetery
Hietzinger Cemetery
The Hietzinger Cemetery is a cemetery in Hietzing, the 13th district of Vienna....
.
Children and descendents
- Johann Evangelist Virgilio Graf Coudenhove-Kalergi (1893-1965), born in Tokyo
- Richard Nikolaus Graf von Coudenhove-Kalergi (1894-1972), born in Tokyo
- Gerolf Joseph Benedikt Maria Valentin Franz Coudenhove-Kalergi (1896-1978), born in Austria, father of the journalist Barbara Coudenhove-KalergiBarbara Coudenhove-KalergiBarbara Coudenhove-Kalergi is a Czech-Austrian journalist. A member of the Coudenhove-Kalergi family, she is the daughter of Gerolf von Coudenhove-Kalergi and thus the niece of Count Richard Nikolaus von Coudenhove-Kalergi. She was awarded the Order of Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk, Class IV, in 2001.-...
and the artist Michael Coudenhove-Kalergi - Ida Friederike GörresIda Friederike GörresIda Friederike Görres , born Elisabeth Friederike, Reichsgräfin Coudenhove-Kalergi was a Czech-Austrian writer...
, born in Austria - Elisabeth Maria Anna Coudenhove-Kalergi (1898-1936), born in Austria
- Karl Heinrich Franz Maria Coudenhove-Kalergi (1903-1987), born in Austria
- Olga Marietta Henriette Maria Coudenhove-Kalergi (1900-1976), born in Austria
Legacy
Mitsu is a popular figure in Japanese film and a musical was devoted to her life. She is also the main character of the manga, Lady Mitsuko by Waki YamatoWaki Yamato
is a Japanese manga artist. She debuted in 1966 with the short story Dorobou Tenshi.Since this debut, Yamato steadily created and published a variety of works in the genre of shōjo manga...
.