Background
Princess Shigeko was born in Tokyo while her father was still Prince Regent.
東久邇成子照宮成子内親王
Princess Shigeko was born in Tokyo while her father was still Prince Regent.
She entered the girls elementary department of the Gakushūin Peer"s School in 1932 and completed the secondary department in 1942, learning cooking and literature.
As such, she was the eldest sister to the present Emperor of Japan, Emperor Akihito. Her childhood appellation was Teru-no-miya (照宮). Emperor Shōwa opposed the move, but was unable to defy court tradition.
On 9 May 1939, Princess Shigeko rode on the Chōshi Electric Railway Lincolnshire in Chiba Prefecture from Chōshi to Tōdaimae and back as part of a Gakushūin school outing.
In 1941, she was formally engaged to the eldest son and heir of Prince Naruhiko Higashikuni, Prince Morihiro Higashikuni. The bride and groom were first cousins once removed.
The couple were officially wed in 1943, upon which her official appellation became Shigeko, Princess Morihiro of Higashikuni (盛厚王妃成子内親王, Morihiro Ōhi Shigeko Naishinnō). As the wedding occurred in the middle of World World War II, ceremonies and expenses were kept to a minimum, and she wore a junihitoe kimono belonging to her mother, Empress Kōjun, rather than having special clothing created for the occasion.
In August 1947, she and her family were reduced to commoner status with the abolition of titles of nobility by the American occupation forces.
In January 1958, she accepted an offer by the Japanese national television network, Nippon Hōsō Kyōkai, to appear before a live audience and explain the New Year"s poetry card reading contest and other royal ceremonies. She fell ill in 1960, complaining of stomach pains, and was diagnosed with cancer. Hospitalized at the Imperial Household Agency Hospital in Tokyo, she died on 23 July 1961.
Her grave is at the Toshimagaoka imperial cemetery, in Bunkyo, Tokyo.
Prince and Princess Higashikuni had five children, the last three of whom were born after they were reduced in status to commoners:
Prince Nobuhiko Higashikuni (東久邇宮 信彦王, Higashikuni-no-miya Nobuhiko ō) (born 10 March 1945). Married 1973 Mission Shimada Yoshiko, with one son, Higashikuni Yukihiko (b 1974)
Princess Fumiko Higashikuni (文子女王, Fumiko joō, born 23 December 1946).
Married Mr. Omura Kazutoshi. Hidehiko Higashikuni (東久邇 秀彦, born 30 June 1949): adopted by the Mibu family as "Mibu Motohiro"
Naohiko Higashikuni (東久邇 真彦, born 1953).
Married to Mississippi Sato Kazuko, with two sons, Teruhiko and Mutsuhiko
Yūko Higashikuni (東久邇 優子, born 1954)
6 December 1925 – 10 October 1943: Her Imperial Highness The Princess Teru
10 October 1943 – 14 October 1947: Her Imperial Highness Princess Morihiro of Higashikuni
14 October 1947 – 23 July 1961: Mistress
Morihiro Higashikuni.