Toshiko Higashikuni

Toshiko Higashikuni
Toshiko Higashikuni
Born	Toshiko, Princess Yasu; (泰宮聡子内親王); 11 May 1896; Tokyo Prefecture, Empire of Japan
Died	5 March 1978 (aged 81); Tokyo, Japan
Spouse	Prince Naruhiko Higashikuni (m. 1915)
Children	Morihiro Higashikuni; Moromasa Higashikuni; Akitsune Higashikuni; Toshihiko Higashikuni
Parents	Emperor Meiji (father); Sono Sachiko (mother);
Relatives	Imperial House of Japan

Toshiko Higashikuni (東久邇聡子, Higashikuni Toshiko), born Toshiko, Princess Yasu (泰宮聡子内親王, Yasu-no-miya Toshiko Naishinnō, 11 May 1896 – 5 March 1978), was the fourteenth child and ninth daughter of Emperor Meiji of Japan, and the seventh child and fifth daughter of Sono Sachiko, the Emperor's fifth concubine.

Biography

Toshiko was born in Japan, the daughter of Emperor Meiji and Lady Sachiko. She held the childhood appellation "Yasu no miya" (Princess Yasu).

She married Prince Naruhiko Higashikuni on 18 May 1915. Emperor Meiji granted Prince Naruhiko the title Higashikuni-no-miya and permission to start a new branch of the imperial family before their marriage on 3 November 1906. The couple had four sons:

Prince Morihiro (盛厚王, Morohiro Ō, 6 May 1917 – 1 February 1969); married his first cousin Shigeko, Princess Teru, the eldest daughter of Emperor Shōwa and Empress Kōjun.
Prince Moromasa (師正王, Moromasa Ō, 3 November 1918 – 1 September 1923); died in the Great Kantō earthquake.
Prince Akitsune (彰常王, Akitsune Ō, 13 May 1920 – 30 August 2006); renounced imperial title and created Marquis Awata Akitsune, 1940
Prince Toshihiko (俊彦王, Toshihiko Ō, 24 March 1929 – 15 April 2015); relocated to Lins, São Paulo, Brazil, 1950 after being adopted and becoming the heir to Kinu, widow of Tetsusuke Tarama.^[1]

In October 1947, the Higashikuni and the other branches of the Imperial Family other than patrilineal descendants of Emperor Taishō were divested of their titles and privileges during the Allied occupation of Japan and became commoners. Toshiko died on 5 March 1978, aged 81. She was the last surviving child of Emperor Meiji.

Ancestry

Ancestors of Toshiko Higashikuni^[2]

8. Emperor Ninkō (1800–1846)

4. Emperor Kōmei (1831–1867)

9. Lady Ōgimachi Naoko (1803–1856)

2. Emperor Meiji (1852–1912)

10. Marquess Nakayama Tadayasu (1809–1888)

5. Lady Nakayama Yoshiko (1836–1907)

11. Matsura Aiko (1818–1906)

1. Toshiko, Princess Yasu

12. Sono Motoshige (1793–1840)

6. Count Sono Motosachi (1833–1905)

13. Matsura Kiko

3. Lady Sono Sachiko (1867–1947)

14. Koide Fusaoki, 8th Lord of Sonobe (1810–1862)

7. Koide

15. Matsudaira Minematsu

References

^ "多羅間鉄輔（たらま・てつすけ）". www.cenb.org.br.
^ "Genealogy". reichsarchiv.jp. Retrieved 6 September 2017. (in Japanese)

[1] "多羅間鉄輔（たらま・てつすけ）". www.cenb.org.br.

[descent-2] "Genealogy". reichsarchiv.jp. Retrieved 6 September 2017. (in Japanese)

[1]

[2]

v t e Japanese princesses
The generations indicate descent from Emperor Meiji, who founded the Empire of Japan.
1st generation	Shizuko, Princess Hisa (ja) Masako, Princess Tsune Fusako, Princess Kane* Nobuko, Princess Fumi Toshiko, Princess Yasu* Takiko, Princess Sada (ja)
2nd generation	None
3rd generation	Shigeko, Princess Teru* Sachiko, Princess Hisa Kazuko, Princess Taka Atsuko, Princess Yori Takako, Princess Suga Princess Yasuko of Mikasa Princess Masako of Mikasa**
4th generation	Sayako, Princess Nori Princess Akiko of Mikasa Princess Yōko of Mikasa Princess Tsuguko of Takamado Princess Noriko of Takamado Princess Ayako of Takamado**
5th generation	Aiko, Princess Toshi Princess Mako of Akishino** Princess Kako of Akishino
* Reduced to commoner status with the abolition of titles of nobility by the American occupation authorities. ** Lost the title upon her marriage.