Iku-hime

Ikuhime (born March 5, 1807 (Bunka 4), died March 29, 1850 (Kaei 3)) was a woman of the early Edo period in Japan. She was the principal wife of the head of the Konoe family, one of the five regent houses. She was also known by the alternate name Ōgoe. Her children included Konoe Tadamoto, Tokiwa Ijōki, and Mizutani Gawa Tadayuki. Her notable descendants include her great-grandsons Fumimaro Konoe and Shigeaki Konoe, and her grandsons Morihiro Hosokawa and Tadahiro Konoe.

Life

She was born on March 5, 1807 (Bunka 4, lunar calendar), in Takanawa, Edo, as the daughter of Shimazu Nariakira, lord of Satsuma Domain, at the Shimazu residence there. Her mother was the consort Hōjū-in (Ohyakutō no Kata).

In 1825 (Bunsei 8), she was engaged to Tadahiro Konoe. At that time, her father Nariakira was in retirement, so she became the adopted daughter of Nariakira’s brother, Sadanobu Konoe. As a result, her name was changed from Ikuhime to Shimazu Okō, and she married into the Konoe family. During her formal accession to the family, she was accompanied by Ikushima (then Fujita) as a senior lady-in-waiting.

She was raised by Sadanobu’s second wife, Oyuura no Kata, and was brought up together with her younger sister, Katsu-hime (wife of Matsudaira Yasu). Oyuura no Kata is said to have acted towards her as if she were her biological mother.

Ikuhime bore three children with Tadahiro Konoe: Tadamoto, Tokiwa Ijōki, and Mizutani Gawa Tadayuki. She died on March 29, 1850 (Kaei 3), aged 43.

Her son Tadamoto married Sadahime, adopted daughter of Shimazu Narioki, who was a daughter of Shimazu Nariakira.

Appearances in media

* TV Drama “Atsuhime” (2008, NHK Taiga Drama) — Portrayed by Yuki Hayakawa

Notes

No additional remarks or supplemental information are provided.