Setsuko, Princess Chichibu

2.1. Birth and Family

Setsuko Matsudaira was born on September 9, 1909, in Walton-on-Thames, England. Her father, Tsuneo Matsudaira, was a distinguished diplomat and politician who served as the Japanese ambassador to the United States (1924) and later to the United Kingdom (1928), eventually becoming the Imperial Household Minister (1936-1945, 1946-1947). Her mother was Lady Nobuko Nabeshima, a member of the prominent Nabeshima clan.

Her family lineage was deeply rooted in Japanese aristocracy. Her paternal grandfather, Matsudaira Katamori, was the last *大名_daimyō^Japanese* of the Aizu Domain and head of the Aizu-Matsudaira cadet branch of the Tokugawa clan. Her maternal grandfather, Marquis Naohiro Nabeshima, was the former *大名_daimyō^Japanese* of the Saga Domain. Her mother's elder sister, Itsuko (1882-1976), married Prince Nashimoto Morimasa, an uncle of Empress Kōjun, connecting Setsuko to even broader imperial circles. Despite this prestigious heritage, Setsuko was technically born a commoner, although both sides of her family maintained close kinship with distinguished *華族_kazoku^Japanese* aristocratic families connected to the Imperial Family.

2.2. Education and Pre-marriage Life

Setsuko's early years included residences in Beijing, Tianjin, and Washington, D.C., where her father served as a diplomat. From 1925 to 1928, while her father was ambassador to the United States, she was educated at the Sidwell Friends School in Washington, D.C.. This international exposure contributed significantly to her proficiency in English; she was considered a *帰国子女_Kikokushijo^Japanese* (a term for Japanese children educated abroad) and was known for her ability to deliver speeches in English before foreign audiences.

Her childhood education also included studies at Gakushūin Girls' Primary School, where she became classmates and lifelong friends with Masako Shirasu, the second daughter of Count Aiske Kabayama. Shirasu later described Setsuko as tolerant and diligent in her studies. The close relationship between their families played a crucial role when Aiske Kabayama facilitated the marriage between Prince Yasuhito and Setsuko at the informal request of Empress Teimei. Empress Teimei was particularly keen on selecting a suitable bride for her second son, especially after the controversies surrounding Empress Kōjun's marriage. Setsuko's perceived good health, which raised expectations for children (though ultimately none were born to the couple), further solidified Empress Teimei's choice. While contemporary reports often romanticized a prior meeting between Setsuko and Prince Yasuhito, Setsuko herself later denied these narratives in her writings.

3.1. Marriage to Prince Chichibu

On September 28, 1928, at the age of 19, Setsuko Matsudaira married Yasuhito, Prince Chichibu, becoming Princess Chichibu. Due to the then-current Imperial House Law, which stipulated that an imperial consort must be of imperial or *華族_kazoku^Japanese* (peerage) lineage, Setsuko, who was legally a commoner through her father, had to be formally adopted by her uncle, Viscount Morio Matsudaira (a naval rear admiral and her father's brother), to acquire the necessary peerage status before the marriage.

This union carried significant historical weight, particularly for the people of the Aizu Domain. Setsuko's paternal grandfather, Matsudaira Katamori, was the last *大名_daimyō^Japanese* of Aizu, a domain famously branded as a "rebel" and "imperial enemy" during the Boshin War and the Meiji Restoration. Her entry into the Imperial Family was seen by former Aizu *samurai* as a profound restoration of their honor and a source of immense pride. Interestingly, three of the four imperial consorts of Emperor Taishō's sons (Empress Kōjun, Princess Setsuko, and Princess Kikuko Takamatsu) were granddaughters of prominent *尊皇攘夷_{Sonnō Jōi}^Japanese* (royalist) or *佐幕_Samaku^Japanese* (pro-shogunate) figures, a fact they reportedly found amusing amongst themselves.

Upon her marriage, Setsuko's name was officially changed from Setsuko (節子), which shared a character with Empress Teimei's birth name, Sadako (貞子), to Setsuko (勢津子). This new name was chosen by taking one character from Ise Province (伊勢), historically significant to the Imperial Family, and one from Aizu (会津), symbolizing her ancestral roots. Following the wedding, Princess Setsuko attended her first imperial court ceremony on October 17, 1928, for the Kanname-sai harvest ritual. The couple immediately traveled to pay respects at Ise Grand Shrine and Fushimi Momoyama Ryo (Emperor Meiji's tomb) and later attended Emperor Shōwa's coronation ceremony in Kyoto on November 10. Although their only pregnancy ended in a miscarriage, the marriage was by all accounts a loving and happy one.

3.2. Imperial Role and Public Engagements

As Princess Chichibu, Setsuko actively fulfilled her duties as a member of the Imperial Family, engaging in numerous public and diplomatic activities. In 1937, she accompanied Prince Yasuhito on an extensive tour of Western Europe, representing Japan at the coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth in Westminster Abbey. Following the coronation, they visited Sweden and the Netherlands as guests of King Gustav V and Queen Wilhelmina, respectively. Towards the end of the trip, while Prince Chichibu met with Adolf Hitler in Nuremberg, Princess Setsuko remained in Switzerland.

Princess Setsuko held a deep affection for both the United States and the United Kingdom. As an ardent Anglophile, she was profoundly saddened by Japan's decision to join the Axis powers and enter World War II. Her fluency in English and her international background made her a valuable asset in fostering international relations, particularly with Western nations.

3.3. Imperial Succession and Wartime Experience

When Princess Setsuko married Prince Yasuhito in 1928, Emperor Shōwa and Empress Kōjun had only daughters, with no male heir yet born. This placed Prince Yasuhito first in line to the throne, which created a period of heightened scrutiny and political maneuvering within the Imperial Household. Empress Dowager Teimei, Prince Yasuhito's mother, actively sought to promote Princess Setsuko's role and encourage childbearing. The Empress Dowager sent gifts to Empress Kōjun for a safe delivery and, for the Chichibu couple's first wedding anniversary, sent a silk depiction of a crane playing under a pine tree-symbols of longevity and prosperity, with the crane alluding to Tsuruga Castle (Aizu-Wakamatsu Castle), an ancestral home of Setsuko's family, and the pine referring to Prince Yasuhito's personal emblem (young pine). She also composed *和歌_waka^Japanese* poems expressing her hopes for the couple to be blessed with children.

Prince Yasuhito, known as the "Sports Prince" for his athletic interests, enjoyed significant public popularity. Given the lack of a male heir, there was a movement to endorse him as the successor. The succession issue was ultimately resolved with the birth of Akihito (the future Emperor Akihito) in 1933, the fifth child of Emperor Shōwa and Empress Kōjun.

In 1939, at the behest of Empress Kōjun, Princess Setsuko became the president of the Society for the Prevention of Tuberculosis. Ironically, the following year, Prince Yasuhito was diagnosed with tuberculosis. Princess Setsuko, having educated herself on the disease due to her new role, recognized early symptoms in her husband, though a definitive diagnosis by doctors was delayed. From 1941, the couple relocated to Gotemba for Prince Yasuhito's recuperation, where they remained through the end of World War II. Despite Princess Setsuko's diligent care and active engagement in public duties on her husband's behalf, Prince Yasuhito succumbed to pulmonary tuberculosis on January 4, 1953, at the age of 50.

4.1. Public Service and Advocacy

After her husband's passing in 1953, Princess Chichibu devoted herself to a life of public service. She continued her role as president of the Society for the Prevention of Tuberculosis, a position she held for an remarkable 55 years until she passed it to Princess Kiko in 1994. Under her leadership, the society established the Chichibunomiya Memorial Clinic for Tuberculosis Prevention in 1957.

Princess Setsuko also held honorary presidencies for the Britain-Japan Society and the Sweden-Japan Society, reflecting her strong connections and affection for these nations. She served as an honorary vice president of the Japanese Red Cross. Her fluency in English proved invaluable in her numerous semi-official visits abroad, which included multiple trips to the United Kingdom (1962, 1967, 1974, 1979, 1981) and Sweden (1962). She also visited France and Denmark in 1962 and traveled to South Korea in 1970 to attend the funeral of Yi Un, the last Crown Prince of Korea. In 1985, she visited Nepal. Even after suffering a myocardial infarction in 1986, which confined her to a wheelchair, she continued to perform her public duties with determination.

4.2. Death and Legacy

Princess Setsuko died from heart failure in Tokyo on August 25, 1995, just shy of her 86th birthday. She was interred in the same burial plot as Prince Yasuhito at Toshimagaoka Cemetery in Tokyo.

With Princess Setsuko's death, the Chichibu princely house (宮家_miyake^Japanese) became extinct, as she and Prince Yasuhito had no children. In accordance with her will, her Gotemba villa was bequeathed to Gotemba City in 1996. The villa was subsequently developed and opened to the public as the Chichibunomiya Memorial Park in 2003, serving as a tranquil public space and a reminder of her life. Additionally, many of the Chichibu princely house's cherished belongings and artifacts were donated to the Museum of the Imperial Collections within the Imperial Palace, ensuring their preservation and public access as part of her enduring legacy.

5.1. Contributions and Positive Impact

Princess Setsuko is remembered for her significant social contributions and positive influence, particularly in public health and international diplomacy. Her nearly lifelong dedication to the Society for the Prevention of Tuberculosis as its president brought crucial attention and resources to combat the disease, which was a major public health concern in post-war Japan. Her active engagement went beyond ceremonial duties; she established clinics and advocated for improved prevention and treatment methods. This consistent public service positioned her as a compassionate figure dedicated to the well-being of the Japanese people.

Furthermore, her international upbringing and fluency in English made her an exceptional ambassador for Japan. Her numerous visits to the United Kingdom and Sweden, often on semi-official diplomatic missions, played a vital role in enhancing bilateral relations and fostering goodwill. She was particularly admired by the British Royal Family, with King Charles III reportedly referring to her as his "Japanese grandmother." Her ability to bridge cultural divides and her genuine affection for other nations contributed to a more positive image of Japan on the global stage, especially during the post-war period. Her personal qualities, such as her tolerance and diligence, also made her a respected figure within the Imperial Family and among the public.

5.2. Criticisms and Controversies

While generally admired, Princess Setsuko was involved in certain social debates, most notably her strong opposition to the marriage of Crown Prince Akihito (the future Emperor) and Shōda Michiko in 1959. This opposition was shared by Empress Kōjun, Princess Kikuko Takamatsu (wife of Emperor Shōwa's third brother), and Setsuko's own mother, Nobuko Matsudaira. Nobuko, who was also the head of the Tokiwakai, an association of former Imperial and peerage families, reportedly mobilized right-wing groups to pressure the Shōda family into declining the proposal.

The opposition stemmed from several factors. There was a personal disliking of Michiko among some imperial family members, but more significantly, the marriage was viewed as a symbol of the "decline of upper-class society" following the post-war reforms that saw the demotion of collateral imperial branches to commoner status and the abolition of the *華族_kazoku^Japanese* peerage system. For some, Michiko's commoner background threatened the traditional exclusivity of the Imperial Household. However, despite her personal reservations and those of her allies, Princess Setsuko ultimately voted in favor of the marriage during the Imperial House Council meeting, demonstrating her understanding of the constitutional process and her commitment to the stability of the Imperial Family, even when it conflicted with her private opinions.

9.1. Ancestry and Family Tree

Princess Setsuko's ancestry highlights her lineage from two of Japan's most distinguished aristocratic families: the Matsudaira and Nabeshima clans.

Her immediate family also maintained close ties to other prominent lines. Her elder sister, Itsuko, married Prince Morimasa Nashimoto, an uncle of Empress Kōjun. Her younger brother, Matsudaira Ichirō, who served as chairman of The Bank of Tokyo, married Toyoko Tokugawa, a daughter of Tokugawa Iemasa, the 17th head of the Tokugawa clan. Through this marriage, Matsudaira Ichirō became the father of Tokugawa Tsunenari, the 18th head of the Tokugawa clan, further cementing Princess Setsuko's family connections to the highest echelons of Japanese society. Princess Setsuko was also a fourth cousin to Princess Kikuko Takamatsu, wife of Prince Takamatsu, as their respective grandfathers, Matsudaira Katamori and Tokugawa Yoshinobu, were second cousins.

9.2. Patrilineal Descent

Princess Setsuko's patrilineal descent traces her lineage back through her father's side, primarily through the Matsudaira clan, a branch of the Tokugawa clan. While the direct link between the Nitta clan and the Tokugawa/Matsudaira clan remains somewhat debated by modern historians, the traditional tracing of her descent is as follows:

• Descent prior to Emperor Keitai is traditionally traced back patrilineally to Emperor Jimmu.
• Emperor Keitai, c. 450-534
• Emperor Kinmei, 509-571
• Emperor Bidatsu, 538-585
• Prince Oshisaka, c. 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