Toda Hanako

Hanako Toda (born June 30, 1909 – died May 10, 2003) was a former member of the Japanese Imperial Family and a former noble lady. She was born as the fifth daughter (youngest child) of Prince載仁 (Prince Zai Nin of Kan’in) at the Kan’in Palace Detached Residence in Odawara City, Kanagawa Prefecture. Her father was Prince Zai Nin of Kan’in, and her mother was Chieko, a daughter of Duke Sanjo Makoto.

Regarding her personal history, she married Marquis Hatomura Hiro Nobu on December 13, 1926 (Taisho 15), and at that time her name was "Kachō Hanako." After marriage, she bore two sons and one daughter, but divorced in 1951 (Showa 26). Following the divorce, she changed her registered surname to Takemura and was known as "Takemura Hanako." Later, she remarried Tōtaro Toda, who was her affair partner, and adopted the name "Hanako Tōtako." Tōtaro Toda was previously married to Kiyoko Tokugawa, a granddaughter of Tokugawa Yoshikatsu, making her the first person among former Imperial Family members to divorce after World War II.

Before losing her imperial status, her rank was “Princess,” and under the Imperial Household Law, she was addressed as "Her Highness." After leaving the Imperial Family, her name evolved from Hanako Kachō to Hanako Takemura and finally to Hanako Tōta.

She died of pneumonia at a hospital in Chofu City, Tokyo, at 4:32 AM on May 10, 2003, at the age of 93. Her funeral was led by her eldest son, Hiromichi Kachō.

Details about her family include her father, Prince Zai Nin, her mother, Chieko, and siblings such as Atsuhito Prince, Queen Kyōko, Queen Shige, Queen Noriko, Prince Haruhito, Queen Kanako, and Queen Hanako.

She was married twice: first to Marquis Hatomura Hiro Nobu (the third son of Prince Fushimi Hiroyasu of Fushimi-miya), and then to Tōtaro Toda. Her children include her eldest son Hiromichi Kachō, second son Hirotaka Fushimi and Hirohide Fushimi (adopted to Hirohide, son of Prince Fushimi Hiroyoshi), and eldest daughter Haruko Matsuoka.

Her maternal uncle, Prince Sadakai Fushimi, was the grandfather of her first husband, Marquis Hatomura Hiro Nobu. Hanako Kachō Nahorataka is a descendant of notable figures related to nobility and the Imperial Family, such as serving as the secretary-general of the Japan Movie Producers Association.

Awards include the Second Class of the Order of the Sacred Crown, awarded on December 10, 1926.

A referenced source is "Heisei Shinshu Kōzoku Kakei Taisei" Volume 1 (Kasumi-kai, 1996).