, formerly , is the first child of Takahito, Prince Mikasa, and

Yuriko, Princess Mikasa (born ; 4 June 1923), is a member of the Imperial House of Japan as the widow of Takahito, Prince Mikasa, the fourth son of Emperor Taishō and Empress Teimei. The Princess is the last surviving paternal great-aunt-in-law of Emperor Naruhito, an ...

.Kunaicho , Their Imperial Highnesses Prince and Princess Mikasa and their family
/ref> She married

Tadateru Konoe is the former president of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). Tadateru Konoe is the 50th Head of the Konoe family. President of Japanese Red Cross Society since 2005, Tadateru Konoe has dedicated his ent ...

on 16 December 1966. As a result, she gave up her imperial title and left the

Japanese Imperial Family The , also referred to as the Imperial Family or the House of Yamato, comprises those members of the extended family of the reigning Emperor of Japan who undertake official and public duties. Under the present Constitution of Japan, the Emperor i ...

, as required by law.

Education

Yasuko was born at

Numazu Imperial Villa 250 px, Aerial picture of Numazu Imperial Villa park The is a former imperial summer residence located in the city of Numazu, Shizuoka, Japan. The villa was constructed by Emperor Meiji in July 1893 and was a favorite residence of his son, Cr ...

, Numazu, In her childhood, Konoe attended Gakushuin Elementary School and then Gakushuin Women's Secondary School. She later completed her studies by graduating from the Department of Japanese Language and Literature, Faculty of Letters,

Gakushuin University is a private university in Mejiro, Toshima Ward, Tokyo. It was re-established after World War II as an affiliate of the Gakushūin School Corporation. The privatized successor to the original Gakushūin University (or "Peers School") was estab ...

Marriage and family

Princess Yasuko married

on 16 December 1966. Upon her marriage, she left the

Imperial House of Japan The , also referred to as the Imperial Family or the House of Yamato, comprises those members of the extended family of the reigning Emperor of Japan who undertake official and public duties. Under the present Constitution of Japan, the Emperor i ...

and took the surname of her husband. Tadateru Konoe is the younger brother of former Prime Minister Morihiro Hosokawa and adopted grandson (and heir) of former Prime Minister

Fumimaro Konoe Prince was a Japanese politician and prime minister. During his tenure, he presided over the Japanese invasion of China in 1937 and the breakdown in relations with the United States, which ultimately culminated in Japan's entry into World W ...

. He is currently President of the Japanese Red Cross Society. They have a son named, Tadahiro (born 18 July 1970). Through Tadahiro and his wife, Keiko Kuni (m. 10 April 2004), Konoe has three grandchildren: two boys and one girl.

Titles and styles

* 26 April 1944 – 16 December 1966: ''Her Imperial Highness'' Princess Yasuko * 16 December 1966 – present: ''Mrs.'' Tadateru Konoe

Honours

National honours

* Grand Cordon of the Order of the Precious Crown

Ancestry

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Konoe, Yasuko 1944 births Living people Japanese princesses People from Tokyo Gakushuin University alumni Grand Cordons (Imperial Family) of the Order of the Precious Crown