Setsuko, Princess Chichibu Explained
was a member of the Japanese imperial family and the wife of Yasuhito, Prince Chichibu, the second son of Emperor Taishō and Empress Teimei. Setsuko was a sister-in-law of Emperor Shōwa and an aunt by marriage of Emperor Akihito.
Early life
Setsuko Matsudaira was born on 9 September 1909 in Walton-on-Thames, England, into the prominent Matsudaira family.[1] [2] Her father, Tsuneo Matsudaira, was a diplomat and politician who later served as the Japanese ambassador to the United States (1924) and later to United Kingdom (1928), and still later, Imperial Household Minister (1936–45, 1946–47). Her mother, Nobuko Nabeshima, was a member of the Nabeshima family. Her paternal grandfather, Katamori Matsudaira, was the last daimyō of the Aizu Domain and head of the Aizu-Matsudaira cadet branch of the Tokugawa. Her maternal grandfather, Marquis Naohiro Nabeshima, was the former daimyō of the Saga Domain. Her mother's elder sister, Itsuko (1882–1976), married Prince Morimasa Nashimoto, an uncle of Empress Kōjun. Despite her prestigious heritage, Setsuko was technically born a commoner, but both sides of her family maintained kinship with distinguished kazoku aristocratic families close to the Japanese Imperial Family.
From 1925 to 1928, Setsuko was educated at the Sidwell Friends School in Washington, D.C. while her father was ambassador to the United States.[3] Setsuko was fluent in English and was sometimes considered to be a Kikokushijo. Upon her return to Japan, Setsuko was chosen by Empress Teimei to marry her second son, Yasuhito, Prince Chichibu, despite the fact she was a commoner. Setsuko married the Prince after her uncle, Viscount Morio Matsudaira, formally adopted her, thus removing the status incongruity between the prince and his bride.[4]
Marriage
On 28 September 1928, aged 19, Setsuko wed Prince Chichibu, and became Princess Chichibu. The bride and groom were eighth cousins, thrice removed, as both were descended from Nabeshima Katsushige, the first lord of Saga. Prince and Princess Chichibu had no children, as Princess Chichibu's only pregnancy ended in a miscarriage. However, by all accounts their marriage was filled with love and happiness for each other.[5]
In 1937, the prince and princess were sent on a tour of Western Europe which took several months. They represented Japan at the May 1937 coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth in Westminster Abbey and subsequently visited Sweden and the Netherlands as the guests of King Gustav V and Queen Wilhelmina, respectively. Princess Chichibu stayed in Switzerland while her husband met Adolf Hitler in Nuremberg at the end of the trip. Princess Chichibu felt a great love for the United States and for England and, as an anglophile, was greatly saddened by Japan's entry into the Second World War on the side of the Axis powers.[6]
Widowhood
After the Prince's death of tuberculosis in 1953, Princess Chichibu became president of the Society for the Prevention of Tuberculosis, honorary president of the Britain-Japan Society, the Sweden-Japan Society, and an honorary vice president of the Japanese Red Cross[7] The Princess made several semi-official visits to Great Britain and Sweden.
Death
Princess Chichibu died from heart failure in Tokyo on 25 August 1995, shortly before her 86th birthday.[8] [9] Princess Chichibu's autobiography, which was published posthumously as The Silver Drum: A Japanese Imperial Memoir, was translated into English by Dorothy Britton.[10]
Honours
Ancestry
Patrilineal descent
Setsuko's patriline is the line from which she is descended father to son.
The existence of a verifiable link between the Nitta clan and the Tokugawa/Matsudaira clan remains somewhat in dispute.
- Descent prior to Keitai is unclear to modern historians, but traditionally traced back patrilineally to Emperor Jimmu
- Emperor Keitai, ca. 450–534
- Emperor Kinmei, 509–571
- Emperor Bidatsu, 538–585
- Prince Oshisaka, ca. 556–???
- Emperor Jomei, 593–641
- Emperor Tenji, 626–671
- Prince Shiki, ????–716
- Emperor Kōnin, 709–786
- Emperor Kanmu, 737–806
- Emperor Saga, 786–842
- Emperor Ninmyō, 810–850
- Emperor Montoku 826–858
- Emperor Seiwa, 850–881
- Prince Sadazumi, 873–916
- Minamoto no Tsunemoto, 894–961
- Minamoto no Mitsunaka, 912–997
- Minamoto no Yorinobu, 968–1048
- Minamoto no Yoriyoshi, 988–1075
- Minamoto no Yoshiie, 1039–1106
- Minamoto no Yoshikuni, 1091–1155
- Minamoto no Yoshishige, 1114–1202
- Nitta Yoshikane, 1139–1206
- Nitta Yoshifusa, 1162–1195
- Nitta Masayoshi, 1187–1257
- Nitta Masauji, 1208–1271
- Nitta Motouji, 1253–1324
- Nitta Tomouji, 1274–1318
- Nitta Yoshisada, 1301–1338
- Nitta Yoshimune, 1331?–1368
- Tokugawa Chikasue?, ????–???? (speculated)
- Tokugawa Arichika, ????–????
- Matsudaira Chikauji, d. 1393?
- Matsudaira Yasuchika, ????–14??
- Matsudaira Nobumitsu, c. 1404–1488/89?
- Matsudaira Chikatada, 1430s–1501
- Masudaira Nagachika, 1473–1544
- Matsudaira Nobutada, 1490–1531
- Matsudaira Kiyoyasu, 1511–1536
- Matsudaira Hirotada, 1526–1549
- Tokugawa Ieyasu, 1st Tokugawa Shōgun (1543–1616)
- Tokugawa Yorifusa, 1st Lord of Mito (1603–1661)
- Matsudaira Yorishige, 1st Lord of Takamatsu (1622–1695)
- Matsudaira Yoriyuki (1661–1687)
- Matsudaira Yoritoyo, 3rd Lord of Takamatsu (1680–1735)
- Tokugawa Munetaka, 4th Lord of Mito (1705–1730)
- Tokugawa Munemoto, 5th Lord of Mito (1728–1766)
- Tokugawa Harumori, 6th Lord of Mito (1751–1805)
- Matsudaira Yoshinari, 9th Lord of Takasu (1776–1832)
- Matsudaira Yoshitatsu, 10th Lord of Takasu (1800–1862)
- Matsudaira Katamori, 9th Lord of Aizu (1836–1893)
- Tsuneo Matsudaira, (1877–1949)
- Setsuko Matsudaira, (1909–1995)
References
- Book: Kōshitsu to Gotairei . ja: 皇室と御大礼 . Okamoto . Keiji . ja . Tokyo . Monass . 1928 . 10.11501/1874753 . Dai-4 Chichibunomiya Yasuhito Shin'nō §3. Go-kon'yaku . ja: 第四 秩父宮雍仁親王殿下 §三、御婚約 . . 76 (plate number 0045.jp2). 岡本 . 瓊二 . Available only at the NDL and its partner libraries or to official registered users in Japan.
- 1928-09-27 . . Office of Imperial Household (Kunaishō) . Kuaishou . Prince Yasuhito had wedding ceremony with Setsuko, the niece to Viscount Matsudaira Yasuo (Announcement #28, Kunaishō) . ja: 告示 / 宮内省 / 第28号 / 雍仁親王殿下子爵松平保男姪勢津子ト結婚ノ禮ヲ行ハセラル . Kampo (官報) . 日本マイクロ写真 . 1928-09-27 . . 675 . 10.11501/2956989 . NDL.
- 1928-09-28 . National Printing Bureau . Announcements . ja: 告示 . Kanpō (官報 昭和3年) . ja . 1928-09-29 . 530 . . 741, 746 (plate numbers 0002.jp2, 0005.jp2) . 10.11501/2956991 . NDL. 大蔵省印刷局 .
- . "". p. 741 (plate number 0002.jp2)
- . "Announcement by Naimushō #256 - Decorations and appointments (Shōkunkyoku) - as of 28 September Shōwa 3rd (1928) ; Princess Setsuko of Prince Chichibunomiya Yasuhito - Appointed to the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Precious Crown (1st class). " p.746 (plate number 0005.jp2)
- Book: Shōwa kaitakushi . ja: 昭和開拓史 . 秩父宮雍仁親王殿下同勢津子妃殿下のお成り . 昭和有畜農業実行組合 . Shinjō, Saitama Prefecture . November 1962 . . 22 (plate number 0016.jp2) . ja.
- Book: December 1995 . "Tsuiroku": Naikaku seido hyakunen-shi (Ge-kan) . ja: 内閣制度百年史. 下巻 追録 - 国立国会図書館デジタルコレクション . limited . dl.ndl.go.jp . 2022-09-23 . Naikaku kanbō 内閣官房 . 10.11501/11932167 . . Tokyo . 25-27 (plate number 0014.jp2-) . ja. 内閣官房 .
- Kase . Toshikazu . October 1995 . Her Imperial Highness Princess Chichibu's Jewel Box: a Goodwill Gift by the US Ambassador to Japan Mr. and Mrs. Glou at the break of WW2 . ja: 秩父宮妃殿下の宝石箱――開戦時、グルウ米駐日大使夫妻に贈られた善意 . Sokoku to seinen . ja . Nihon kyōgikai . 26 . 10 (205) . 25-27 (plate numbers 0014.jp2-).
- ** Tanaka "". pp.20-24 (plate number 0012.jp2-)
Further reading
- Book: Prince Chichibu. Princess Setsuko. Gotemba seiwa. ja:御殿場清話. Yanagisawa, Takeshi . Sekai no nihon-sha. 1948. Figures series #1. . .
- Chichibunomiya Setsuko ; Shirasu, Masako ; Asō, Kazuko . (April 1951). ". Fujin kōron vol. 37, no.4, pp56-65. Chūōkōron Shinsha, .
- Chichibunomiya Setsuko . January 1973 . . Bungei shunjū . 51 . 1 . . . 220–231.
- Chichibunomiya Setsuko. (February 1976) "". Bungei shunjū, vol. 54, issue 2, pp.p282-300, Bungeishunjū, .
- . Toshio Uyeno, 1987. .
- . . Asahi Newspaper, 1995, "Asahi news shop series #031", .
- Princess Chichibu. The Silver Drum: A Japanese Imperial Memoir. Folkestone, Global Books Ltd.(distribution, UK) (May 1996). Trans. Dorothy Britton.
- Prince and Princess Chichibu : two lives lived above and below the clouds. Rev. and expanded 2nd ed. Folkestone, Global Books Ltd.(distribution, UK) (2010). Trans. Britton, Dorothy. . Including a complete translation of Setsuko, Princess Chichibu's memoir The silver drum.
- Ema, Shuichi. Chichibu no Miya Hi Setsuko no shogai. Kaibushiki Kaisha Kuppon (1996). (Japanese)
- Lebra, Sugiyama Takie. Above the Clouds: Status Culture of the Modern Japanese Nobility. University of California Press (1995).
- Fujitani, T. Splendid Monarchy: Power and Pageantry in Modern Japan. University of California Press; Reprint edition (1998).
- (May 2002). Rekishi dokuhon, vol.47, no.5, pp.11-13,Shinjinbutsu Ōrai-sha, .
External links
Notes and References
- Sakata . Ikuko . March 1988 . Special Feature : Imperial Factions - Imperial Households of the Meiji, Taisho, and Showa Era - Princess Chichibunomiya Setsuko, a marriage of the Imperial Family -- a bride from the Aizu clan, or the Imperial Enemy . ja: 特集 天皇家の閨閥--明治・大正・昭和の皇室 天皇家の結婚 秩父宮妃勢津子--朝敵「会津」の嫁入り . Rekishi Dokuhon . . 33 . 5 (472) . 102~109 (plate number 0053.jp2-).
- Book: Itō, Zensō (伊藤善創) . Princess Chichibunomiya Setsuko, the Granddaughter to Matsudaira Katamori of the Aizu clan : Praying for the 90th Wedding Anniversary : 150th Anniversary of the Meiji Era . Mimpo Printing (民報印刷 制作・印刷) . Fukushima Mimpō Newspaper (contibutor. 編集協力: 福島民報社) . 2018 . 978-4-904834-37-4 . Fukushima . ja . ja: 会津松平容保公御孫姫秩父宮妃勢津子さま : ご成婚九十周年を祈念して : 明治150年企画.
- Web site: Roosevelt . Eleanor . May 28, 1953 . 1953 - My Day . The Eleanor Roosevelt Papers Digital Edition (www.gwu.edu) .
- Matsudaira . Tsunekazu (松平恒忠) . Memories of Grandfather Matsudaira Tsuneo and Aunt Princess Chichibunomiya Setsuko . ja: 祖父松平恒雄と叔母秩父宮妃勢津子の思い出 . Rekishi to Tabi (歴史と旅) . 24 . 9 (368) . 128-133 (plate number 0067.jp2-).
- Female staff writer . May 1929 . The Daily Life of Her Imperial Highness Princess Chichibunomiya Setsuko . ja: 秩父宮妃勢津子殿下の御日常 . Shufu No Tomo . Shufu no tomo-sha . 13 . 5 (May issue) . 35-38 (plate number 0063.jp2-).
- Chichibunomiya Setsuko . January 1949 . Amerika no gaku'en seikatsu wo shinonde . ja: アメリカの学園生活を偲んで . New Age (ニューエイジ) . Mainichi Newspaper . 1 . 1 . 26- (plate number 0015.jp2) . 10.11501/2310430.
- Chichibunomiya Setsuko . January 1951 . Congratulatory Remarks : National Health and the Mission of the Association . ja: 祝辞 国民の健康と協会の任務 . Journal of the Japanese Nursing Association . 3 . 6 . 5 (plate number 0006.jp2).
- Murayama . Tomi'ichi . Tomiichi Murayama . April 1998 . . A tribute to the late Her Imperial Highness Princess Chichibunomiya Setsuko (25 August 1995) . ja: 秩父宮妃勢津子殿下のご訃報に接しての謹話 (平成7・8・25) . 村山内閣総理大臣演説集 . ja . Nihon Kōhō Kyōkai (日本広報協会) . 112.
- Book: Kirimo: Commemorating the Completion of the Relief of Her Imperial Highness Chichibunomiya Setsuko . Chichibunomiya Setsuko-hi Rerīfu kensetsu Īnkai . 2000 . Ōtaki Village (Saitama Prefecture) . ja . ja: きりも : 秩父宮妃勢津子殿下御尊影レリーフ完成記念.
- Chichibunomiya Setsuko . August 1991 . For my memoir "Silver Bonbonniere" . ja: 回想記「銀のボンボニエール」に寄せて . Bungei Shunjū (文芸春秋) . . 69 . 9 . 92-93 (plate number 0069.jp2-) . 10.11501/3198575 . limited . NDL.