Takako Shimazu
Encyclopedia
, is the wife of Hisanaga Shimazu and fifth (and youngest) daughter of Emperor Shōwa
and Empress Kōjun
. As such, she is the younger 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 sisters in the Marunouchi
district of Tokyo. She graduated from the Gakushuin
Peers 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
. Princess Takako graduated from Gakushuin University Women's College with a degree in English literature
in March 1957.
On 3 March 1960, Princess Takako wed Hisanaga Shimazu (born Tokyo
, 29 March 1934), the son of the late Count Hisanori Shimazu and (at the time) an analyst at the Japan Export-Import Bank
(JEXIM). The couple were introduced by common acquaintances at the Gakushuin. They shared a common interest in the music of Perez Prado
.
Upon her marriage, the Princess relinquished her membership in the Imperial Family and adopted her husband's surname, in accordance with the 1947 Imperial Household Law
. Described by Western media sources at the time as a "commoner bank clerk," the groom was actually a direct descendant of the last daimyō
of Satsuma Domain (and thus a maternal cousin to Empress Kōjun), and held the peerage
title of count
(hakushaku) under the kazoku
peerage system until the peerage system was abolished in 1947.
In 1963, three years after her marriage, she narrowly escaped from an attempted kidnapping
. Due to extensive media coverage, the location of the couple’s home was common knowledge, as was her $500,000 marriage dowry
. A member of the criminal group tipped off the police before the kidnapping could occur.
Shimazu pursued a thirty-year career with JEXIM, including postings to Washington D.C. in the United States
and Sydney
, Australia
accompanied by his wife. He became a member of the Board of Directors of the Sony Corporation upon his retirement from the bank in 1987, served as executive director of the Sony Foundation for Science Education from 1994 to 2001, and is currently research director of the Yamashina Institute for Ornithology
.
The former Princess has made numerous appearances on Japanese television as a commentator on world events, and is also on the Board of Directors of the Prince Hotels
chain.
Takako and her husband have one son: Yoshihisa Shimazu (born 5 April 1962).
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 younger sister to the present Emperor of Japan, Emperor Akihito.
Biography
Princess Takako 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 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. 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...
Peers 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...
. Princess Takako graduated from Gakushuin University Women's College with a degree in English literature
English literature
English literature is the literature written in the English language, including literature composed in English by writers not necessarily from England; for example, Robert Burns was Scottish, James Joyce was Irish, Joseph Conrad was Polish, Dylan Thomas was Welsh, Edgar Allan Poe was American, J....
in March 1957.
On 3 March 1960, Princess Takako wed Hisanaga Shimazu (born 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...
, 29 March 1934), the son of the late Count Hisanori Shimazu and (at the time) an analyst at the Japan Export-Import Bank
Japan Bank for International Cooperation
The , also known by its acronym, JBIC, is a Japanese public financial institution and export credit agency, and was created on October 1, 1999, through the merging of the Japan Export-Import Bank and the Overseas Economic Cooperation Fund ....
(JEXIM). The couple were introduced by common acquaintances at the Gakushuin. They shared a common interest in the music of Perez Prado
Perez Prado
Dámaso Pérez Prado was a Cuban bandleader, musician , and composer. He is often referred to as the 'King of the Mambo'.His orchestra was the most popular in mambo...
.
Upon her marriage, the Princess relinquished her membership in the Imperial Family and adopted her husband's surname, 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:...
. Described by Western media sources at the time as a "commoner bank clerk," the groom was actually 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 Satsuma Domain (and thus a maternal cousin to Empress Kōjun), and held the peerage
Peerage
The Peerage is a legal system of largely hereditary titles in the United Kingdom, which constitute the ranks of British nobility and is part of the British honours system...
title of count
Count
A count or countess is an aristocratic nobleman in European countries. The word count came into English from the French comte, itself from Latin comes—in its accusative comitem—meaning "companion", and later "companion of the emperor, delegate of the emperor". The adjective form of the word is...
(hakushaku) under the kazoku
Kazoku
The was the hereditary peerage of the Empire of Japan that existed between 1869 and 1947.-Origins:Following the Meiji Restoration of 1868, the ancient court nobility of Kyoto regained some of its lost status...
peerage system until the peerage system was abolished in 1947.
In 1963, three years after her marriage, she narrowly escaped from an attempted kidnapping
Kidnapping
In criminal law, kidnapping is the taking away or transportation of a person against that person's will, usually to hold the person in false imprisonment, a confinement without legal authority...
. Due to extensive media coverage, the location of the couple’s home was common knowledge, as was her $500,000 marriage dowry
Dowry
A dowry is the money, goods, or estate that a woman brings forth to the marriage. It contrasts with bride price, which is paid to the bride's parents, and dower, which is property settled on the bride herself by the groom at the time of marriage. The same culture may simultaneously practice both...
. A member of the criminal group tipped off the police before the kidnapping could occur.
Shimazu pursued a thirty-year career with JEXIM, including postings to Washington D.C. in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
accompanied by his wife. He became a member of the Board of Directors of the Sony Corporation upon his retirement from the bank in 1987, served as executive director of the Sony Foundation for Science Education from 1994 to 2001, and is currently research director of the Yamashina Institute for Ornithology
Yamashina Institute for Ornithology
The is a non-profit scientific research organization in Japan, specializing in ornithology studies.-History:The Yamashina Institute for Ornithology was founded by Dr. Yoshimaro Yamashina at his home in Shibuya, Tokyo as a private museum to store his collection of bird specimens and books. Marquis...
.
The former Princess has made numerous appearances on Japanese television as a commentator on world events, and is also on the Board of Directors of the Prince Hotels
Prince Hotels
The is the name of a hotel chain company headquartered in Tokorozawa, Saitama, Japan. It is a subsidiary of Seibu Holdings, Inc. Together with Seibu Railway, Prince Hotels is the core company of Seibu Group.-Overview:...
chain.
Takako and her husband have one son: Yoshihisa Shimazu (born 5 April 1962).
Ancestry
| Takako, Princess Suga | 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 |
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| Paternal Grandmother: Princess Sadako of the Fujiwara Clan, Empress Teimei |
Paternal Great-grandfather: Prince Kujō Michitaka of the Fujiwara Clan |
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| Paternal Great-grandmother: Lady Noma Ikuko, concubine |
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| 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... |
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| 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 |
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| Maternal Great-grandmother: Lady Hiro Sumako, concubine |