Masako Sen

Former Japanese princess
Sōshitsu Sen XVI [ja]
​
​
(m. 
  • Takahito, Prince Mikasa (father)
  • Yuriko Takagi (mother)
RelativesImperial House of Japan

Masako Sen (千 容子, Sen Masako, born 23 October 1951), formerly Princess Masako of Mikasa (容子内親王, Masako Naishinnō), is a former member of the Imperial Family of Japan. She is the fourth child and second daughter of Takahito, Prince Mikasa and Yuriko, Princess Mikasa.[1] She is the wife of the 16th-generation Soshitsu Sen.

Education

Maple (Acer) leaves, designated imperial personal emblem of Masako

For her early education as a child, Princess Masako attended Gakushuin Elementary School and then Gakushuin Women's Secondary School. She later enrolled in the Department of Japanese Language and Literature, Faculty of Letters, Gakushuin University. After completing three years, she was sent to a boarding school in Switzerland and moved to Paris for studying in the University of Sorbonne.

Marriage and family

Princess Masako married Masayuki Sen (b. 1956), the elder son of Sōshitsu Sen XV, on 14 October 1983.[2] Upon her marriage, she gave up her imperial title and left the Japanese Imperial Family as required by Imperial Law,[3] and took the surname of her husband. He succeeded his father and thus became Sōshitsu Sen XVI [ja], the sixteenth hereditary grand master (Iemoto) of the Urasenke Japanese Tea Ceremony School, in December 2002.[4]

The couple have two sons and one daughter:

  • Akifumi Kikuchi (born 10 November 1984), had his surname officially changed from "Sen" to "Kikuchi" in 2014[5]
  • Makiko Sakata (born 11 July 1987), married in 2017 to Munehiro Sakata[6]
  • Takafumi Sen (born 6 July 1990)

Official activities

Masako Sen has been active in the Soroptimist International (SI) organization in Japan. She was President of the SI Kyoto Club in 2006, and again, in 2016. In 2012, she was elected as the 14th Governor of Japan's Soroptimist International of the Americas (SIA) Chuo Region.[7] In March, 2018, she was elected as Chair of the Soroptimist Japan Foundation.[8]

Titles and styles

Styles of
Princess Masako of Mikasa
(before her marriage)
Mikasa-no-miya mon
Mikasa-no-miya mon
Reference styleHer Imperial Highness
Spoken styleYour Imperial Highness
  • 23 October 1951 – 14 October 1983: Her Imperial Highness Princess Masako
  • 14 October 1983 – present: Mrs. Soshitsu Sen

Honours

National honours

Ancestry

Ancestors of Masako Sen
16. Osahito, Emperor Kōmei
8. Mutsuhito, Emperor Meiji
17. Yoshiko Nakayama
4. Yoshihito, Emperor Taishō
18. Lord Mitsunaru Yanagiwara
9. Lady Naruko Yanagihara
19. Lady Utano Hasegawa
2. Takahito, Prince Mikasa
20. Hisatada Kujō
10. Prince Michitaka Kujō
21. Lady Tsuneko Karahashi
5. Lady Sadako Kujō
22. Yorioki Noma
11. Ikuko Noma
1. Princess Masako of Mikasa
24. Mamoru Takagi
12. Masayoshi Takagi
6. Masanari Takagi
26. Terutoshi Matsudaira
13. Saneko Matsudaira
27. Kazu Hotta
3. The Hon. Yuriko Takagi
28. Tametada Reizei
14. Tamemori Irie
29. Lady Ryōko Yanagihara
7. Kuniko Irie
30. Count Sakimitsu Yanagihara
15. Nobuko Yanagihara
31. Lady Hatsune Date

References

  1. ^ Kunaicho | Their Imperial Highnesses Prince and Princess Mikasa and their family
  2. ^ "Princess Masako of Mikasa and Masayuki Sen pose for photographs with".
  3. ^ The Imperial House Law, Article 12, https://www.kunaicho.go.jp/e-kunaicho/hourei-01.html,
  4. ^ "The Urasenke Konnichian Web Site".
  5. ^ "【ご報告】苗字がかわりました : Chori official blog-地図をつくる-". Archived from the original on 2015-02-05. Retrieved 2015-02-05.
  6. ^ "千 万紀子様、結納の儀".
  7. ^ "クラブの歩み | 国際ソロプチミスト京都 Soroptimist International of Kyoto".
  8. ^ "財団の歴史 - ソロプチミスト日本財団について | 公益財団法人 ソロプチミスト日本財団".
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Japanese princesses
The generations indicate descent from Emperor Meiji, who founded the Empire of Japan.
1st generation
2nd generation
None
3rd generation4th generation5th generation
* Reduced to commoner status with the abolition of titles of nobility by the American occupation authorities.
** Lost the title upon her marriage.