Princess Nobuko Asaka

Princess Nobuko Asaka (鳩彦王妃允子内親王, Yasuhiko Ōhi Nobuko Naishinnō), born Nobuko, Princess Fumi (富美宮允子内親王, Fumi-no-miya Nobuko Naishinnō, 7 August 1891 – 3 November 1933), was the twelfth child and eighth daughter of Emperor Meiji of Japan and one of his consorts, Sachiko Sono.

Nobuko Asaka
Born	7 August 1891 Tokyo Prefecture, Japan
Died	3 November 1933 (aged 42) Tokyo Prefecture, Japan
Burial	Toshimagaoka Imperial Cemetery, Bunkyo, Tokyo
Spouse	Prince Yasuhiko Asaka ​ ​ (m. 1909)​
Issue	Princess Kikuko Asaka Prince Takahiko Asaka Prince Tadahito Asaka Princess Kiyoko Asaka
Full name Nobuko (允子)
House	Imperial House of Japan
Father	Emperor Meiji
Mother	Sachiko Sono
Religion	Shinto

Biography

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

Her future husband, Prince Yasuhiko Asaka, was the eighth son of Prince Asahiko Kuni and the court lady Sugako Tsunoda. Prince Yasuhiko was also a half-brother of Prince Naruhiko Higashikuni, Prince Morimasa Nashimoto, Prince Kuninori Kaya, and Prince Kuniyoshi Kuni, the father of the future Empress Kōjun, the consort of Emperor Shōwa. On 10 March 1906, Emperor Meiji granted Prince Yasuhiko the title Asaka-no-miya and authorization to begin a new branch of the imperial family. On 6 May 1909, Prince Asaka married Princess Fumi. Prince and Princess Asaka had four children:

1. Princess Kikuko Asaka (紀久子女王, Kikuko Joō, 12 September 1911 – 12 February 1989); married Marquis Nabeshima Naoyasu in 1931.
2. Prince Takahiko Asaka (孚彦王, Takahiko Ō, 8 October 1912 – 6 May 1994); married Todo Chikako, the fifth daughter of Count Todo Takatsugu. They had two daughters, Fukuko and Minoko and a son Tomohiko.
3. Prince Tadahito Asaka (正彦王, Tadahito Ō, 5 January 1914 – 6 February 1944), renounced membership in the imperial family and created Marquis Otowa, 1936. Killed in action during the Battle of Kwajalein);
4. Princess Kiyoko Asaka (湛子女王, Kiyoko Joō, 2 August 1919 – 1 August 2019); married Count Ogyu Yoshiatsu. She was the last surviving grandchild of Emperor Meiji.

Nobuko died on 3 November 1933, aged 42, due to kidney disease.

Titles and styles

Styles of Nobuko, Princess Fumi
Imperial Coat of Arms
Reference style	Her Imperial Highness
Spoken style	Your Imperial Highness

• 7 August 1891 – 6 May 1909: Her Imperial Highness The Princess Fumi
• 6 May 1909 – 3 November 1933: Her Imperial Highness The Princess Asaka

Honours

National honours

• Grand Cordon of the Order of the Precious Crown

Ancestry

Ancestors of Princess Nobuko Asaka[1]

16. Emperor Kōkaku (1771–1840) 8. Emperor Ninkō (1800–1846) 17. Lady Kanshuuji Tadako (1780–1843) 4. Emperor Kōmei (1831–1867) 18. Ōgimachi Sanemitsu (1777–1817) 9. Lady Ōgimachi Naoko (1803–1856) 19. Lady Yotsuji Chieko 2. Emperor Meiji (1852–1912) 20. Nakayama Tadayori (1778–1825) 10. Marquess Nakayama Tadayasu (1809–1888) 21. Ōgimachisanjō Tsunako (d. 1858) 5. Lady Nakayama Yoshiko (1836–1907) 22. Matsura Seizan, 9th Lord of Hirado (1760–1841) 11. Matsura Aiko (1818–1906) 23. Mori 1. Nobuko, Princess Fumi 24. Nakayama Tadaosa (1756–1809) 12. Sono Motoshige (1793–1840) 25. Sanjō Narakimi 6. Count Sono Motosachi (1833–1905) 26. Matsura Seizan, 9th Lord of Hirado (1760–1841) 13. Matsura Kiko 27. Mori 3. Lady Sono Sachiko (1867–1947) 28. Koide Fusatake, 7th Lord of Sonobe (1775–1821) 14. Koide Fusaoki, 8th Lord of Sonobe (1810–1862) 29. Wakebe 7. Koide 30. Matsudaira Yasutō, 8th Lord of Hamada (1779–1841) 15. Matsudaira Minematsu 31. Matsudaira (d. 1805)

References

1. "Genealogy". Reichsarchiv. Retrieved 6 September 2017. (in Japanese)