Toshiko Higashikuni

Toshiko Higashikuni (東久邇 聡子, Higashikuni Toshiko), born Toshiko, Princess Yasu (泰宮聡子内親王, Yasu-no-miya Toshiko Naishinnō), was born on 11 May 1896 in Japan. She was the fourteenth child and ninth daughter of Emperor Meiji of Japan and Lady Sono Sachiko, who was the fifth concubine of Emperor Meiji. Her childhood appellation was "Yasu no miya" (Princess Yasu).

On 18 May 1915, she married Prince Naruhiko Higashikuni. Prior to their marriage, on 3 November 1906, Emperor Meiji granted her husband the title Higashikuni-no-miya and permission to establish a new branch of the imperial family. Prince Naruhiko Higashikuni was a member of the Japanese imperial family who later served as the Prime Minister of Japan from August to October 1945.

Toshiko and Prince Naruhiko Higashikuni had four sons:

- Prince Morihiro (盛厚王, Morohiro Ō), born 6 May 1917, died 1 February 1969. He married Shigeko, Princess Teru, who was his first cousin and the eldest daughter of Emperor Shōwa and Empress Kōjun.

- Prince Moromasa (師正王, Moromasa Ō), born 3 November 1918, died 1 September 1923. His death was in the Great Kantō earthquake.

- Prince Akitsune (彰常王, Akitsune Ō), born 13 May 1920, and died 30 August 2006. He renounced his imperial title and was created Marquis Awata Akitsune in 1940.

- Prince Toshihiko (俊彦王, Toshihiko Ō), born 24 March 1929, and died 15 April 2015. In 1950, he relocated to São Paulo, Brazil, after being adopted and becoming the heir to Kinu, the widow of Tetsusuke Tarama.

In October 1947, during the Allied occupation of Japan, Toshiko and the other branches of the imperial family, except for the patrilineal descendants of Emperor Taishō, were stripped of their imperial titles and privileges and became commoners. Toshiko remained a member of the imperial family in title until this abolition.

Toshiko Higashikuni died on 5 March 1978 at the age of 81. She was the last surviving child of Emperor Meiji.

Her ancestry includes the imperial lineage of Japan, being the daughter of Emperor Meiji and Lady Sono Sachiko.