Princess Takamatsu

Kikuko 宣仁親王妃喜久子
Princess Takamatsu
Princess Takamatsu in 1930
Born	(1911-12-26)26 December 1911 Tokyo City, Japan
Died	18 December 2004(2004-12-18) (aged 92) St. Luke's International Hospital, Chūō, Tokyo, Japan
Burial	27 December 2004 Toshimagaoka Imperial Cemetery, Bunkyo, Tokyo
Spouse	Nobuhito, Prince Takamatsu (m. 1930–1987; his death)
Full name Kikuko (喜久子?)
House	Imperial House of Japan
Father	Yoshihisa Tokugawa
Mother	Princess Mieko of Arisugawa
Religion	Shinto

Styles of Princess Takamatsu
Reference style	Her Imperial Highness
Spoken style	Your Imperial Highness
Alternative style	Ma'am

Kikuko, Princess Takamatsu (宣仁親王妃喜久子^?, Nobuhito Shinnōhi Kikuko), born Kikuko Tokugawa (徳川喜久子^?, Tokugawa Kikuko, 26 December 1911 – 18 December 2004), known informally as Princess Kikuko, was a member of the Japanese Imperial Family. The Princess was the widow of Prince Takamatsu, the third son of Emperor Taishō and Empress Teimei. She was, therefore, a sister-in-law of Emperor Shōwa and an aunt of the present emperor, Akihito. She was mainly known for philanthropic activities, particular her patronage of cancer research organizations. At the time of her death, Princess Takamatsu was the oldest member of the Imperial Family.

Born in Tokyo on 26 December 1911, she was the second daughter of Yoshihisa Tokugawa (2 September 1884 – 22 January 1922) a peer and wife Princess Mieko of Arisugawa (14 February 1891 – 25 April 1933). Her paternal grandfather was Yoshinobu Tokugawa, Japan's last shogun. Her maternal grandfather, Prince Takehito Arisugawa, was the seventh head of the Arisugawa-no-miya, one of the four shinnōke or collateral branches of the Imperial Family during the Edo period entitled to provide a successor to the throne in default of a direct heir. Lady Kikuko Tokugawa received her primary and secondary education at the then-girls' department of the Gakushuin. At age eighteen, she became engaged to Prince Takamatsu, who was then third-in-line to the Chrysanthemum throne.