Tokugawa Iesato facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Prince
Tokugawa Iesato
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| President of the House of Peers | |
| In office 4 December 1903 – 9 June 1933 |
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| Monarch | Meiji Taisho Showa |
| Preceded by | Prince Konoe Atsumaro |
| Succeeded by | Prince Konoe Fumimaro |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Tokugawa Kamenosuke
August 24, 1863 |
| Died | June 5, 1940 (aged 76) |
| Spouse | Konoe Hiroko (1867–1944) |
| Children | Iemasa Tokugawa, Yasuko Tokugawa, Ryōko Tokugawa, Toshiko Tokugawa |
Prince Tokugawa Iesato (徳川 家達, August 24, 1863 – June 5, 1940) was a prominent political figure in Japanese politics and diplomacy in the first half of the XX century.
He was the first head of the Tokugawa clan after the overthrow of the Tokugawa shogunate and served as President of the House of Peers from 1903 to 1933.
Contents
Early life
Tokugawa Iesato was born on August 24, 1863. He was the son of Tokugawa Yoshiyori and Takai Takeko. He was adopted and raised by Tokugawa Iemochi and his wife, Kazu-no-Miya Chikako. Iesato had two brothers, Tokugawa Satotaka and Tokugawa Takachiyo.
Career
Iesato went to Eton. He became a member of the House of Peers in 1890, serving as its President from 1903 to 1933. During his career, he held many senior government positions. He was the head of the Japan-America Society and served as President of the national organizing committee for the 1940 Olympics.
During World War I, Japan not only militarily supported its western allies, but also helped the sick and wounded. In 1917, Prince Iyesato Tokugawa and his close friend Baron Shibusawa Eiichi established an aid association whose primary goal was to collect funds for the Allied nations. Iyesato Tokugawa served as its president.
In 1921, Iesato headed the Japanese delegation to the Washington Naval Conference, where he supported United States position on the 10:10:6 division of naval strength between the United States, Great Britain and Japan.
Later years
From late 1933 and into 1934, Prince Iyesato Tokugawa went on a world tour, which sought to strengthen foreign relations of Japan with its allies, the U.S. and Europe.
In the U.S., he met with President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and reiterated the need for a united front to prevent a potential war.
Death
Tokugawa Iesato died on June 5, 1940. He is buried at the Tokugawa family cemetery in Ueno, Tokyo.
Personal life
Tokugawa Iesato was married to Konoe Hiroko, the daughter of Konoe Tadafusa. They had four children:
- Tokugawa Iemasa
- Tokugawa Yasuko married Nobusuke Takatsukasa
- Tokugawa Ryoko married Matsudaira Yasumasa
- Tokugawa Toshiko married Matsudaira Naokuni
Interesting facts about Tokugawa Iesato
- During his diplomatic journeys to other nations, Iesato usually presented himself as Prince Iyesato Tokugawa.
- When Prime Minister Yamamoto Gonnohyōe was forced to resign, many people supported nominating Tokugawa Iesato as the new Prime Minister.
- He received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the University of Southern California in 1934.
| Contributing editor: Stan S. Katz Dr. Stan S. Katz is the author of The Emperor and the Spy, The Art of Diplomacy , and The Art of Peace. |
See also
In Spanish: Tokugawa Iesato para niños
