Tokugawa Noriko

Noriko Tokugawa (born April 5, 1850 (Kaei 3, May 16) – November 14, 1874 (Meiji 7)), was a Japanese imperial princess and noble. She was the eighth daughter of Prince Fushimi Kiyomasa, and the chief consort of Tokugawa Shigeharu, the 14th feudal lord of Kishu Domain. Her former name was Princess Noriko (Noriko Jōō), and her childhood name was Michi-no-Miya. Her posthumous name was Teijuku-fujin.

Life

Born on April 5, 1850 (Kaei 3), as the eighth daughter of Prince Fushimi Kiyomasa. Her mother was Takatsukasa Keiko, a consort. In 1858 (Ansei 5), a marriage proposal was arranged between her and Tokugawa Yoshifuku, the 13th lord of Kishu Domain, but the plan was canceled when Yoshifuku became shogun. The following year, in 1859 (Ansei 6), a marriage arrangement was made with Tokugawa Shigeharu, the 14th lord; the betrothal ceremony was held on December 6 of that year, and she was formally married on December 21.

As part of the Bunkyu reforms, the system of alternate residence (sankin-kōtai) was relaxed, and Noriko entered Kishu. From March 10, 1863 (Bunkyu 3), to October 26, 1864 (Genji 1), she resided in the Honmaru Palace of Wakayama Castle. After the Incident at Namamugu, the sankin-kōtai system was reverted to its previous form, and Noriko returned to Edo.

In April 1868 (Keiō 4), the new government ordered her to vacate the Edo residence. She intended to remain in Edo temporarily to observe the movements of the Tokugawa clan and to comfort the Princess Wenemi, but under strong orders from the new government, she left Edo in June 1868.

In November 1869 (Meiji 2), she gave birth to her eldest son, Chōfukumaru, in Wakayama Castle, but he died early. The following year, in June 1870 (Meiji 3), her son Chōfukumaru passed away. Following the abolition of the feudal domains and the establishment of prefectures in the Meiji Restoration, Noriko moved to her residence in Akasaka, Tokyo. She died at the age of 25 on November 14, 1874 (Meiji 7). Her grave is at Ikegami Honmon-ji Temple.

Culturally, Noriko was appreciative of waka poetry and was skilled in calligraphy and painting.

Family

Father: Prince Fushimi Kiyomasa

Mother: Takatsukasa Keiko

Husband: Tokugawa Shigeharu, 14th lord of Kishu Domain

Children:

- Eldest son: Chōfukumaru (November 1869 – June 1870)

- Daughter: Hisako (wife of Tokugawa Yorinobu)

- Second daughter: Takako (wife of Date Munenari)

References

Koyama Nojō "Kii Tokugawa Family — The Southern Province's Hero that Produced the Eighth Shogun Yoshimune," *Rekishi Dokusho*, June 2009, Shinjinbutsu Ōraisha, p. 97.