Setsuko, Princess Chichibu – “Patience and perseverance” (Part two)

Read part one here.

Setsuko herself was overwhelmed by the proposal of marriage and also felt herself to be unworthy. She told Count Kabayama, “It is surely incumbent upon me to refuse, for I have never been taught how to behave in such a position. Why, it seems quite preposterous that someone like myself should marry into the Imperial Family. There are so many other Japanese girls… Why me? I am not even a member of the nobility, and only managed to get into the Peeresses’ School by passing the special examinations. I must certainly refuse.”¹

She became desperately unhappy and refused to eat or go to school. It was her governess who told her, “The Empress Dowager has sent Count Kabayama here twice. Her Majesty obviously wishes it fervently. So I really think there is nothing you can do but make up your mind to accept.”² Setsuko accepted her faith and said, “I will do as Her Majesty wishes. Please tell Uncle Kabayama and Daddy and Mummy.”³ She wrote in her memoirs that she cried the entire night after promising to accept Prince Chichibu.⁴

On 13 January 1928, Setsuko was officially entered in the family register of Viscount Morio Matsudaira as his niece so that she could be considered a member of the nobility. Five days later, permission for the marriage was granted. Setsuko was determined to finish her schooling before she returned to Japan that summer. However, news of her impending marriage made her a celebrity, and the press began following her. On 18 May 1928, she graduated from the Friends School. On 1 June, Setsuko left Washington on a train bound for San Francisco, where she would be the Shunyo Maru for Japan. On 22 June, the ship dropped anchor at Yokohama, and Setsuko began her new life. She was welcomed by an enthusiastic crowd.

Two days after she arrived in Tokyo, Setsuko was invited by the Dowager Empress, who offered to teach her about court observances and etiquette. Setsuko would go to the Palace almost every day to receive instructions. She later wrote, “I could hardly be expected to learn everything in so short a time [three months]. I visited Her Majesty for instruction as frequently as possible and tried to remember everything she said, but it was all very difficult, and many were the times I shed tears in private.”⁵ There was additional pressure on Setsuko to learn quickly, as she would have to attend the enthronement ceremony of Emperor Hirohito and Empress Nagako two months after the wedding. Contact with her future husband remained minimal; they had met only four times before the exchange of betrothal gifts.⁶

On 28 September 1928, the wedding took place. Setsuko’s day started at 2 a.m., with the long process of dressing and makeup. She was dressed in the so-called “twelve-layered robe” and left the house at 8.15 a.m.⁷ She met Prince Chichibu inside the Palace, and the two bowed to each other in greeting. Inside the dressing room, the final touches were made to Setsuko’s elaborate outfit – the traditional three-pronged gold coronet was placed in her hair, and she received a ceremonial cedar wood fan. At exactly 9 a.m., she was led to the sanctuary, where the ceremony took place.⁸ Several minutes later, Setsuko left the sanctuary as a Princess.

Setsuko and her new husband went to his home, where they were greeted by four of his aunts: Nobuko, Princess Asaka, Toshiko, Princess Hagashi-kuni, Fusako, Princess Kitashirakawa and Masako, Princess Takeda. Setsuko later wrote, “I remember being very nervous, as these were the elder princesses whose guidance I would be seeking, and whose admonitions I would have to heed.”⁹ The ceremony of the “three-times-three” exchange of the nuptial sake cups was performed, and afterwards a banquet took place.¹⁰ The official photographs were taken after the meal, and only then was Setsuko relieved from her heavy ceremonial robes.

She was then redressed in a formal European court gown for the ceremonial audience with the Emperor and Empress. She also wore the sash of the Order of the Sacred Crown, First Class and the diamond-encrusted badge. A diamond tiara was placed on her head, and she wore gold brocaded pumps.¹¹ During the ceremony at the Imperial Palace, they received the Emperor’s congratulations in ancient court language. A visit to the Dowager Empress took place afterwards.

They returned home, but there was no time for relaxation yet. Setsuko was again redressed, this time into a formal black kimono. Together with Prince Chichibu, she received Prince Sumi, his youngest brother. Outside, crowds had gathered, and Setsuko and her new husband took the time to greet them, much to the crowd’s delight. As the long day finally came to an end, Prince Chichibu told her, “You must be terribly tired. It’ll all take a lot of getting used to, I know. But don’t know – I’ll always be there for you to lean on.”¹²

Setsuko set out to do her best as a princess, but it was difficult for her. Her aunt told her, “Patience and perseverance are the most important attributes. If you have these, you will soon learn to be a Princess.”¹³

Part three coming soon. 

1. The silver drum: a Japanese imperial memoir by Princess Chichibu p.60
2. The silver drum: a Japanese imperial memoir by Princess Chichibu p.61
3. The silver drum: a Japanese imperial memoir by Princess Chichibu p.63
4. The silver drum: a Japanese imperial memoir by Princess Chichibu p.63
5. The silver drum: a Japanese imperial memoir by Princess Chichibu p.75
6. The silver drum: a Japanese imperial memoir by Princess Chichibu p.76
7. The silver drum: a Japanese imperial memoir by Princess Chichibu p.84
8. The silver drum: a Japanese imperial memoir by Princess Chichibu p.85
9. The silver drum: a Japanese imperial memoir by Princess Chichibu p.87
10. The silver drum: a Japanese imperial memoir by Princess Chichibu p.87
11. The silver drum: a Japanese imperial memoir by Princess Chichibu p.88
12. The silver drum: a Japanese imperial memoir by Princess Chichibu p.92
13. The silver drum: a Japanese imperial memoir by Princess Chichibu p.95