Setsuko, Princess Chichibu – “The weight of responsibility” (Part four)

Read part three here.

Setsuko realised that she had to focus on her husband’s treatment. She wrote, “But it was no use chiding myself. I realised the most important thing I could do now was concentrate on helping the Prince have the best treatment to make him well.”¹

His physicians made him realise that he had to give up his intense schedule. He needed rest. Setsuko wrote, “He became a model patient, characteristically conscientious and thorough in this as in everything else. During the twelve years of his struggle with the disease, never once did he entertain any lack of confidence in his physicians, trusting them completely.”² He began his treatment at the seaside in Hayama, but he soon became feverish again. He was moved to Gotemba, with views of Mount Fuji and Mount Ashitaka. This also meant he was closer to Tokyo. The couple bought a villa there in 1941. Setsuko wrote, “The mountain air agreed with the Prince, and he seemed so happy in the mountain villa that his temperature finally returned to normal, and by October he was well enough to go down the veranda steps and walk a little in the garden.”³

In October 1941, Setsuko gained another sister-in-law when Prince Mikasa married Yuriko Takagi. Setsuko attended the wedding alone. Prince and Princess Mikasa visited Gotemba in December 1941. Setsuko wrote, “It was the first time the Prince had met the bride, and he dressed in his formal hakama for the occasion. The following day, being Sunday, the young couple spent the night, and after they had gone, the Prince was in a particularly happy mood, full of affectionate reminiscences about his mischievous youngest brother.”⁴ The day after the visit, Japan declared war on Britain and the United States.

It was a difficult situation for Setsuko, who had a personal connection to the British and United Ambassadors and their wives. As there would be no way to organise a proper farewell, Setsuko asked a trusted friend to give a message, along with a jewel box for the wife of the United States Ambassador and some food for the wife of the British Ambassador. Setsuko wrote, “They were apparently so overcome with emotion that it was some time before they could speak.”⁵

Despite the Prince’s illness, Setsuko was still sent out to perform royal duties when required. She was sent to naval hospitals to cheer up patients, as were the other imperial Princesses. On 13 October 1943, she attended the wedding of her niece, Princess Shigeko, to Prince Morihiro Higashikuni. Setsuko wrote, “Being wartime, everything was done very simply, but nevertheless, the bride looked young and beautiful. It was a nice change to be able to describe to the Prince, on my return, the details of such a joyful occasion and the great happiness of Their Majesties.”⁶

As the war continued and air raids became more frequent, the Prince’s head physicians had to move to Gotemba because trains often couldn’t run. Prince Chichibu donated 223 trees from their cypress forest to the war effort.⁷ On 25 February 1945, the Imperial Palace in Tokyo was bombed, and Setsuko travelled to Tokyo to see the Emperor and Empress. In May, Germany surrendered, and Japan’s defeat seemed inevitable.

On 6 August, an atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, followed by one on Nagasaki on the 9th. On 15 August 1945, Prince and Princess Takamatsu joined Setsuko and her husband to listen to an unprecedented radio broadcast from the Emperor. The Emperor announced the surrender of Japan. Setsuko wrote, “But I remember my eyes filling with tears, both with relief that the war was over, and the multitude of thoughts that welled up in my mind.”⁸

Shortly after, Setsuko and her husband were told to leave immediately for Tokyo. Their Tokyo residence had been partially destroyed, but it was a roof over their heads nonetheless. However, as winter approached, they were given permission by the Americans to move back to Gotemba.⁹ Setsuko set up a vegetable garden, and they went on to keep chickens, sheep, goats and pigs.¹⁰ She and her husband took lessons in spinning and weaving.

Setsuko often travelled to Tokyo on her husband’s behalf. Following the American occupation, they had to file tax returns like ordinary citizens, which she took to the Imperial Household Agency. At the Imperial Family Conference in 1947, Setsuko also represented him. They were among the few princely families allowed to retain their title. The Prince was able to attend the farewell dinner with her for those who were losing their titles. Setsuko wrote, “I was choked with emotion, and at the same time, suddenly aware of the weight of responsibility now resting upon those few of us who officially remained Imperial.”¹¹

Prince Chichibu underwent a kidney operation in 1949, after another bout of fevers. His mother, the Empress Dowager, often came to visit during his convalescence. ¹² He underwent two more operations in 1950, and he was given streptomycin, which had been sent by the Royal Family of Norway. The Prince took up writing during this time.

In May 1951, they received the news that the Empress Dowager had died unexpectedly of a heart attack. Prince Chichibu was not well enough to travel, but Setsuko hurried to Tokyo. Setsuko wrote, “I felt as if my prop and stay had been pulled out from under me. As for the Prince, who had such a specially close relationship with his mother, he was overwhelmed with grief that he of all people, was unable to be at her wake. To support him in his grief, I resolved to allow myself no tears.”¹³

Part five coming soon.

1. The silver drum: a Japanese imperial memoir by Princess Chichibu p.146
2. The silver drum: a Japanese imperial memoir by Princess Chichibu p.146-147
3. The silver drum: a Japanese imperial memoir by Princess Chichibu p.149
4. The silver drum: a Japanese imperial memoir by Princess Chichibu p.151
5. The silver drum: a Japanese imperial memoir by Princess Chichibu p.154
6. The silver drum: a Japanese imperial memoir by Princess Chichibu p.159-160
7. The silver drum: a Japanese imperial memoir by Princess Chichibu p.163
8. The silver drum: a Japanese imperial memoir by Princess Chichibu p.168
9. The silver drum: a Japanese imperial memoir by Princess Chichibu p.171
10. The silver drum: a Japanese imperial memoir by Princess Chichibu p.174
11. The silver drum: a Japanese imperial memoir by Princess Chichibu p.177
12. The silver drum: a Japanese imperial memoir by Princess Chichibu p.177
13. The silver drum: a Japanese imperial memoir by Princess Chichibu p.180