Takamasa Ikeda

Takemasa Ikeda (October 21, 1926 – July 21, 2012) was a Japanese businessman. He was the 16th head of the former Ikeda Marquis family of Okayama Domain, and served as chairman and director of Ikeda Zoo and president of Ikeda Farm.

He was born into the family of the lords of Bizen Province’s Okayama Domain. His father was Norimasa Ikeda (former marquis). After graduating from Gakushuin High School, he engaged in managing Ikeda Farm from 1948, improving livestock and operating the farm.

On October 10, 1952, he married Princess Atsuko of Japan (the fourth daughter of Emperor Showa and Empress Kōjun). In 1953, he established Ikeda Sangyo Animal and Plant Park Limited Liability Company, which was later reorganized into Ikeda Zoo Inc., where he served as director. In addition to managing Ikeda Zoo, he held various positions such as chairman of the Japan Zoo and Aquarium Association, director of Okayama Family Land, president of the Japan Chin Club, chairman of the National Egg Price Stabilization Fund, and president of the National Egg Sales Cooperative Union.

In 1971, Emperor Akihito (then Crown Prince) and Empress Michiko, his brother-in-law and sister-in-law, visited the Ikeda residence and sat together at the 22nd National Tree-Planting Festival. He also supported the political activities of Katsuya Hirasawa, former chief of the Imperial Palace Guard Headquarters.

He died of pneumonia on July 21, 2012, at a hospital in Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture, at the age of 85. His residence was at 2 Chome, Kyōzan, Okayama City, Okayama Prefecture.

Regarding family relations, he was the husband of Atsuko Ikeda (Princess Atsuko), a daughter of Emperor Showa. Together with his wife, he issued congratulations on the birth of Prince Yūhin, the third son of Crown Prince Akishino, on September 6, 2006.

Furthermore, it is considered that he supported the political activities of Katsuya Hirasawa, a former chief of the Okayama Prefectural Police Headquarters.