Setsuko, Princess Chichibu

Setsuko, Princess Chichibu (雍仁親王妃勢津子, Yasuhito Shinnōhi Setsuko, born Setsuko Matsudaira (松平節子, Matsudaira Setsuko); 9 September 1909 – 25 August 1995) 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.

Setsuko
Princess Chichibu
Princess Chichibu, c. 1928
Born	Setsuko Matsudaira (松平節子) (1909-09-09)9 September 1909 Walton-on-Thames, England
Died	25 August 1995(1995-08-25) (aged 85) Tokyo, Japan
Burial	Toshimagaoka Imperial Cemetery, Bunkyo, Tokyo
Spouse	Yasuhito, Prince Chichibu ​ ​ (m. 1928; died 1953)​
House	Matsudaira clan (by birth) Imperial House of Japan (by marriage)
Father	Tsuneo Matsudaira
Mother	Nobuko Nabeshima

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.^[4] Setsuko married the Prince after her uncle, Viscount Morio Matsudaira, formally adopted her, thus removing the status incongruity between the prince and his bride.^[5]

Marriage

The Prince and Princess Chichibu on their wedding day

Chrysanthemum × morifolium, designated imperial personal emblem of Setsuko

On 28 September 1928, aged 19, Setsuko wed Prince Chichibu, and became Princess Chichibu.^[6][7][8] The bride and groom were eighth cousins, thrice removed, as both were descended from Nabeshima Katsushige, the first lord of Saga.^[9] 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.^[10][11]

In 1937, the prince and princess were sent on a tour of Western Europe which took several months.^[10] 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.^[12] 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.^[13][14]

Widowhood

After the Prince's death of tuberculosis in 1953,^[15] 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^[16] 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.^[17][18] Princess Chichibu's autobiography, which was published posthumously as The Silver Drum: A Japanese Imperial Memoir, was translated into English by Dorothy Britton.^[19]

Honours

• Grand Cordon of the Order of the Precious Crown, 1st Class - 1928^[8]
•  United Kingdom: Dame Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George

Ancestry

Ancestors of Setsuko, Princess Chichibu[9]

8. Matsudaira Yoshitatsu, 10th Lord of Takasu (1800–1862) 4. Matsudaira Katamori, 9th Lord of Aizu (1836–1893) 9. Komori Chiyoko 2. Matsudaira Tsuneo (1877–1949) 10. Kawamura Genbei 5. Kawamura Nagako 1. Setsuko, Princess Chichibu 12. Nabeshima Naomasa, 10th Lord of Saga (1815–1871) 6. Marquess Nabeshima Naohiro, 11th Lord of Saga (1846–1921) 13. Tokugawa Tatsuko (1830–1886) 3. Lady Nabeshima Nobuko (1886–1969) 14. Hirohashi Taneyasu (1819–1876) 7. Hirohashi Nagako (1855–1941)

Patrilineal descent

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)

Footnotes

1. 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" 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)). Kadokawa Publication: 102～109 (plate number 0053.jp2-).
2. Itō, Zensō (伊藤善創) (2018). Princess Chichibunomiya Setsuko, the Granddaughter to Matsudaira Katamori of the Aizu clan : Praying for the 90th Wedding Anniversary : 150th Anniversary of the Meiji Era 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 (in Japanese). Fukushima Mimpō Newspaper (contibutor. 編集協力: 福島民報社). Fukushima: Mimpo Printing (民報印刷 制作・印刷). ISBN 978-4-904834-37-4.
3. Roosevelt, Eleanor (May 28, 1953). "1953 – My Day". The Eleanor Roosevelt Papers Digital Edition (www.gwu.edu).
4. Okamoto 1928, p. 76 (plate number 0045.jp2)
5. Matsudaira, Tsunekazu (松平恒忠). "Memories of Grandfather Matsudaira Tsuneo and Aunt Princess Chichibunomiya Setsuko" 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-).
6. Kampō 1928a, pp. 675
7. Kampō 1928b, pp. 741 (plate number 0002.jp2), "Announcement / Kunaishō / Number 29 / Marriage notice of Prince Yasuhito with the niece of Viscount Matsudaira Yasuo"
8. Kampō 1928b, pp. 746 (plate number 0005.jp2), "Announcement/ Naimushō / Number 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)."
9. "Genealogy". Reichsarchiv (in Japanese). 8 May 2010. Retrieved 5 September 2017.
10. Bungei shunjū 1973
11. Female staff writer (May 1929). "The Daily Life of Her Imperial Highness Princess Chichibunomiya Setsuko" 秩父宮妃勢津子殿下の御日常. Shufu No Tomo. 13 (5 (May issue)). Shufu no tomo-sha: 35-38 (plate number 0063.jp2-).
12. Gotemba seiwa 1948
13. Chichibunomiya Setsuko (January 1949). "Amerika no gaku'en seikatsu wo shinonde" アメリカの学園生活を偲んで. New Age (ニューエイジ). 1 (1). Mainichi Newspaper: 26- (plate number 0015.jp2). doi:10.11501/2310430.
14. Kase 1995, pp. 25–27
15. NDL digital collection 1995
16. Chichibunomiya Setsuko (January 1951). "Congratulatory Remarks : National Health and the Mission of the Association" 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).
17. Murayama, Tomi'ichi (April 1998). Cabinet Secretariat (Japan) (ed.). "A tribute to the late Her Imperial Highness Princess Chichibunomiya Setsuko (25 August 1995)" 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 (in Japanese). Nihon Kōhō Kyōkai (日本広報協会): 112.
18. Kirimo: Commemorating the Completion of the Relief of Her Imperial Highness Chichibunomiya Setsuko きりも : 秩父宮妃勢津子殿下御尊影レリーフ完成記念 (in Japanese). Ōtaki Village (Saitama Prefecture): Chichibunomiya Setsuko-hi Rerīfu kensetsu Īnkai. 2000.
19. Chichibunomiya Setsuko (August 1991). "For my memoir "Silver Bonbonniere"" 回想記｢銀のボンボニエール｣に寄せて. Bungei Shunjū (文芸春秋). 69 (9). Bungeishunjū: 92-93 (plate number 0069.jp2-). doi:10.11501/3198575 – via NDL.

References

• 岡本, 瓊二 (1928). "Dai-4 Chichibunomiya Yasuhito Shin'nō §3. Go-kon'yaku" 第四 秩父宮雍仁親王殿下 §三、御婚約. In Okamoto, Keiji (ed.). Kōshitsu to Gotairei 皇室と御大礼 (in Japanese). Tokyo: Monass. p. 76 (plate number 0045.jp2). doi:10.11501/1874753. Available only at the NDL and its partner libraries or to official registered users in Japan.
• Office of Imperial Household (Kunaishō) (1928-09-27). Ōkurashō Insatsu-kyoku (ed.). "Prince Yasuhito had wedding ceremony with Setsuko, the niece to Viscount Matsudaira Yasuo (Announcement #28, Kunaishō)" 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). 1928-09-27. 日本マイクロ写真: 675. doi:10.11501/2956989 – via NDL.
• 大蔵省印刷局 (1928-09-28). National Printing Bureau (ed.). "Announcements" 告示. Kanpō (官報 昭和3年) (in Japanese). 1928-09-29 (530): 741, 746 (plate numbers 0002.jp2, 0005.jp2). doi:10.11501/2956991 – via NDL.
  • Kitokurō Hitotsugi (一木, 喜徳郎, Hitotsugi, Kitokurō, Kunaishō). "Announcement by Kunaishō #28 - Marriage notice of Prince Yasuhito with the niece of Viscount Matsudaira Yasuo. (宮内省 / 第29号 / 雍仁親王殿下本日正四位勲三等功五級子爵松平保男姪勢津子ト結婚セラル)". p. 741 (plate number 0002.jp2)
  • Naimushō (内務省). "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)
• 昭和有畜農業実行組合, ed. (November 1962). "秩父宮雍仁親王殿下同勢津子妃殿下のお成り". Shōwa kaitakushi 昭和開拓史 (in Japanese). Shinjō, Saitama Prefecture. pp. 22 (plate number 0016.jp2).{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
• 内閣官房 (December 1995). "Tsuiroku": Naikaku seido hyakunen-shi (Ge-kan) 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 (in Japanese). Tokyo: Naikaku kanbō 内閣官房. pp. 25-27 (plate number 0014.jp2-). doi:10.11501/11932167. Retrieved 2022-09-23 – via dl.ndl.go.jp.
• 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" 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 (in Japanese). 26 (10 (205)). Nihon kyōgikai: 25-27 (plate numbers 0014.jp2-).
• ** Tanaka "In mourning for the death of Her Imperial Highness Princess Chichibunomiya Setsuko (秩父宮妃勢津子殿下の薨去を悼み奉りて, Chichibunomiya hi Setsuko denka no kōkyo wo itami tatematsurite)". pp.20-24 (plate number 0012.jp2-)

Further reading

• Prince Chichibu; Princess Setsuko (1948). Yanagisawa, Takeshi (ed.). Gotemba seiwa 御殿場清話. Figures series #1. Sekai no nihon-sha. NCID BA35453355.
• Chichibunomiya Setsuko ; Shirasu, Masako (白洲, 正子) ; Asō, Kazuko (麻生, 和子). (April 1951). "Yōshun teidan (teidan) (陽春鼎談(鼎談)). Fujin kōron vol. 37, no.4, pp56-65. Chūōkōron Shinsha, NAID 1521699230338642816.
• Chichibunomiya Setsuko (January 1973). "History of Showa period I shared with Prince (Interview) (宮さまと私の昭和史〔談話〕, Miyasama to watakushi no shōwashi 'Danwa')". Bungei shunjū. 51 (1): 220–231. NAID 1521699229931106688.
• Chichibunomiya Setsuko. (February 1976) "Kōzoku danran (皇族団欒)". Bungei shunjū,　vol. 54, issue 2, pp.p282-300, Bungeishunjū, NAID 1521980705157621504.
• Uyeno, Toshio (上野, 寿郎) Aizu no hiroku: Chichibunomiya Setsuko hidenka to Takajo (会津の秘録 : 秩父宮勢津子妃殿下とたか女). Toshio Uyeno, 1987. NCID BA5808818X.
• Watanabe, Midori (渡辺, みどり). Haran no purinsesu : Chichibunomiya Setsuko hi no shōwashi (波瀾のプリンセス : 秩父宮勢津子妃の昭和史). Asahi Newspaper, 1995, "Asahi news shop series #031", NCID BN13181934.

• Princess Chichibu. The Silver Drum: A Japanese Imperial Memoir. Folkestone, Global Books Ltd.(distribution, UK) (May 1996). Trans. Dorothy Britton. ISBN 1-86034-004-0
  • 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. ISBN 1905246242, 9781905246243. 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). ISBN 4-88975-601-9 (Japanese)
• Lebra, Sugiyama Takie. Above the Clouds: Status Culture of the Modern Japanese Nobility. University of California Press (1995). ISBN 0-520-07602-8
• Fujitani, T. Splendid Monarchy: Power and Pageantry in Modern Japan. University of California Press; Reprint edition (1998). ISBN 0-520-21371-8
• Chichibunomiya Sestuko-hi no yoso'oi — Shinshūhinten "Meiji/Taishō/Shōwa no yoso'oi" yori (特集カラー1 秩父宮勢津子妃の装い--新収品展「明治・大正・昭和の装い」より) (May 2002). Rekishi dokuhon, vol.47, no.5, pp.11-13,Shinjinbutsu Ōrai-sha, NAID 1521699230029337984.

External links

• Their Imperial Highnesses Prince and Princess Chichibu at the Imperial Household Agency website
• "The Silver Drum"
• "Floribunda Roses"