Iwasaki Kise

Kise Iwasaki (Iwasaki Kise, born February 10, 1845 (March 17, 1845, in the Gregorian calendar) – April 8, 1923), was a Japanese woman active from the late Edo period through the Taisho era. She is known as the wife of Yataro Iwasaki, the founder of the Mitsubishi zaibatsu (Mitsubishi Group).

Birth and Family Background

In 1845 (Kōka 2), she was born in Hama Gaida, Sanwa Village, Nagaoka District, Tosa Province (present-day Nankoku City, Kochi Prefecture), as the daughter of a local retainer (gōshi) named Shigeharu Takabe (Genma) and his wife Toku. Soon after her birth, her father Shigeharu Takabe passed away, and her mother Toku remarried a gōshi named Kuman of Inokuchi Village, Aki District (now Aki City, Kochi Prefecture). Subsequently, Kise was raised by her uncle, Koichiro Takabe, and his wife Furuuma, who lived in Obatose Village, Gawa District (present-day Kochi City).

Marriage and Family

In 1862 (Bunkyū 2), Kise, through the mediation and matchmaking of her stepmother and the families of Yoshikatsu Kuman and Ki Kikuji and Hatsu, married Yataro Iwasaki, a ronin (masterless samurai) from the Tosa Domain. She had three children with Yataro: a daughter, Haruji (later the wife of Takaki Kato); a eldest son, Hisaya (the third head of Mitsubishi); and a second daughter, Iso (the wife of Jūzō Kiuchi). It is said that she served her father-in-law, Yataro, and her mother-in-law, Miwa.

Life and Activities

Until moving to Tokyo in 1874 (Meiji 7), Kise lived in Tosa with her stepmother and Yataro's family. After relocating, she dedicated herself to her children's education and supporting her household. She established a private residence called Hina Hōkan, where she educated her adopted children and Yataro's illegitimate children. Moreover, she became a disciple of the Shingon Ritsu sect monk Shaku Unshō and was involved in religious activities, founding the Jūzenkai and Fujin Shōhōkai, organizations aligned with her faith.

Death and Burial Site

She passed away in 1923 (Taisho 12). Her body was initially buried at Somei Reien Cemetery in Toshima Ward, Tokyo, and later reinterred at the Iwasaki family cemetery.

Portrayed by Actresses

Tarōka Kagekage, an actress from the Takarzuka Revue, played Kise in the 2001 Snow Troupe production "The Bold Land of Gold" (originally by Hiroshi Motomiya). In the NHK Taiga drama "Ryōma Den" (2010), actress Maiko portrayed Kise.

Note

This information is based on the life, family, and activities of Kise Iwasaki.