Princess Nobuko Asaka


Princess Nobuko Asaka, born Nobuko, Princess Fumi, was the twelfth child and eighth daughter of Emperor Meiji of Japan and one of his consorts, Sachiko Sono.

Biography

Nobuko was born in Japan, the daughter of Emperor Meiji and Lady Sachiko. She held the childhood appellation "Fumi no miya".
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; married Marquis Nabeshima Naoyasu in 1931.
  2. Prince Takahiko Asaka; 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, renounced membership in the imperial family and created Marquis Otowa, 1936. Killed in action during the Battle of Kwajalein);
  4. Princess Kiyoko Asaka; 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

National honours