The Washington herald., 1907-12-15
PRINCESSES TO WE'D
Daughters of japanese En-
perOr to Be Brides.
DATE HAS NOT BEEN SET
Newspapers of Empire Refer Vague
Iy to Coming Marriage OF Princess
MnsakO to Prince Tsunehisa and of
Princess Hisnko 20 Priace Hato-
hiko-UsuaI Ceremony Described.

Tokyo, Japan, Dec 1L-An imperial
double wedding is one Of the great events
scheduled for the near future. Two Of
the daughters OF his majesty the En-
peror of Japan are 70 be given in mar
riage TO princes OF noble blood. and while
because of the exclusiveness which sur
rounds m Oriental court this can hardly
be classed as a society event. the popular
interest manifested in the approaching
crisis in the lives Of the little imperial
psincesses may be properly described as
ne tional
The exact date Of the coming ceremony
has not been set. or if it has the fact
has not been made public. The vague
references appearing in japanese news
papers Indicate that il is imminent. This
seems TO be about as far as the papers
are permitted TO go toward giving the
news relating 10 an event which the peo-
pie are discussing freely. and which. were
it to occur in any other land would call
forth from the newspapers most elabor-
ate, II not always accurate. details
who They VIII Marry.
Princess Masako, Tsune-no-miyi. is 10
be married to Prince Tsunehisa. head Of
the noble house OF Takeda: Princess
Hisako, Kane-no-miyi. IS 20 become the
wife Of Prince Hatohiko head OF the
noble house OF Asaka.
II is not for Occidental minds TO clearly
understand ali the mysteries Of Japanese
names and titles. nor OF other things
japanese. This much. however. may be
written by way OF explanation:
The 'no-miya' means "of the palace. %
or some similar rendering showing the
imperial line. so these brides-to-be are
known respectively as Princess Tsune
and Princess Kane-the final &c" in both
names 10 be sounded much as II Il were
~ Princess Tsune is the sixth daugh-
ter Of his imperial majesty, Princess
Kane the seventh daughter Princess
Tsune is nineteen years old; Princess
Kane nearly eighteen.
Are Full sisters.
They are fun sisters, so II is generally
understood, but not daughters OF the
Empress. The Emperor has been the
father Of eleven or twelve children. but
five Of whom are living. The Empress
bore him one child. who dsed in infancy.
The Crown Prince is not her child, nor
I Is lac fun brother TO any OF the four liv-
Ing imperial princesses. Princesses Tsune
and Kane are daughters OF one mother.
the TWO younger princesses are daugh-
ters OF another.
The houses Of Takeda and Asaka were
established by order OF his imperial
majesty after the two princely bride
grooms-to-be had been selected for the
higd honor Of being his sUns-in-Iaw.
These young princes are now known as
Prince Takeda and Prince Asaia. Prince
Takeda is the eldest son OF the late
Prince Kita-Shirakawa. who is almost
deihed by the Japanese people because
he lost his life while campaigning IN For
mosa.
Men Are Both Soldiers.
Prince Takeda is twenty-six years
old and captain Of cavalry in the i'm
perial army. Prince Asaka is the son OF
the late Prince Kuni and brother OF the
present head Of the house OF KunL He
is twenty years old end is also destined
for the army, being now a student at the
military preparatory school.
While the houses OF -Shira kayya
and Kuni are not OF those TO which. be-
cause Of consanguinity. the throne
might 20 in case Of default IN descend
ants OF the reigning sovereign. they are
Of the old noble blood. The new houses
Of Takeda and Asaka. created in March.
1906. in anticipation Of the marriage Of
the two princes Of the older houses into
the imperial family. viii assume higher
dignity in the eyes OF the people. even
If they do have no higher rank al court.
Splendid Young Women.
The two little daughters OF his imperial
majesty. whose nuptials viii soon be
celebrated by all Japan. are splendid
specimens Of young womanhoOd In their
education which has been under the
supervision Of the brilliant and famous
Nine Shimoda, great attention was paid