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Masako Sen (千 容子, Sen Masako, born 23 October 1951), formerly Princess Masako of Mikasa (容子内親王, Masako Naishinnō), is a former member of the Imperial Family of Japan. She is the fourth child and second daughter of Takahito, Prince Mikasa and Yuriko, Princess Mikasa. She is the wife of the 16th-generation Soshitsu Sen.

Education

For her early education as a child, Princess Masako attended Gakushuin Elementary School and then Gakushuin Women's Secondary School. She later enrolled in the Department of Japanese Language and Literature, Faculty of Letters, Gakushuin University. After completing three years, she was sent to a boarding school in Switzerland and moved to Paris for studying in the University of Sorbonne.

Marriage and family

Princess Masako married Masayuki Sen (b. 1956), the elder son of Sōshitsu Sen XV, on 14 October 1983. Upon her marriage, she gave up her imperial title and left the Japanese Imperial Family as required by Imperial Law, and took the surname of her husband. He succeeded his father and thus became Sōshitsu Sen XVI [ja], the sixteenth hereditary grand master (Iemoto) of the Urasenke Japanese Tea Ceremony School, in December 2002.

The couple have two sons and one daughter:

• Akifumi Kikuchi (10 November 1984 – 20 August 2024), had his surname officially changed from "Sen" to "Kikuchi" in 2014
• Makiko Sakata (born 11 July 1987), married in 2017 to Munehiro Sakata
• Takafumi Sen (born 6 July 1990)

Official activities

Masako Sen has been active in the Soroptimist International (SI) organization in Japan. She was President of the SI Kyoto Club in 2006, and again, in 2016. In 2012, she was elected as the 14th Governor of Japan's Soroptimist International of the Americas (SIA) Chuo Region. In March, 2018, she was elected as Chair of the Soroptimist Japan Foundation.

Titles and styles

Styles of Princess Masako of Mikasa (before her marriage)
Reference style	Her Imperial Highness
Spoken style	Your Imperial Highness

• 23 October 1951 – 14 October 1983: Her Imperial Highness Princess Masako
• 14 October 1983 – present: Mrs. Soshitsu Sen

Honours

National honours

• Grand Cordon of the Order of the Precious Crown

Ancestry

References

1. Kunaicho | Their Imperial Highnesses Prince and Princess Mikasa and their family
2. "Princess Masako of Mikasa and Masayuki Sen pose for photographs with". 6 November 2018.
3. The Imperial House Law, Article 12, https://www.kunaicho.go.jp/e-kunaicho/hourei-01.html,
4. "The Urasenke Konnichian Web Site". 14 September 2023.
5. "#Breaking Akifumi Kikuchi, great-grandson of Emperor Taisho(Yoshihito), died on August 20 at the age of 39. He was the eldest son of the Urasenke, a traditional Japanese tea ceremony family, and a poet. The cause of his death is unknown". X. 2 September 2024. Retrieved 2 October 2024.
6. "【ご報告】苗字がかわりました : Chori official blog-地図をつくる-". Archived from the original on 2015-02-05. Retrieved 2015-02-05.
7. "千 万紀子様、結納の儀".
8. "クラブの歩み | 国際ソロプチミスト京都 Soroptimist International of Kyoto".
9. "財団の歴史 - ソロプチミスト日本財団について | 公益財団法人 ソロプチミスト日本財団".

v t e Japanese princesses
The generations indicate descent from Emperor Meiji, who founded the Empire of Japan.
1st generation	Shizuko, Princess Hisa (ja) Masako, Princess Tsune Fusako, Princess Kane* Nobuko, Princess Fumi Toshiko, Princess Yasu* Takiko, Princess Sada (ja)
2nd generation	None
3rd generation	Shigeko, Princess Teru* Sachiko, Princess Hisa Kazuko, Princess Taka** Atsuko, Princess Yori** Takako, Princess Suga** Princess Yasuko of Mikasa** Princess Masako of Mikasa**
4th generation	Sayako, Princess Nori** Princess Akiko of Mikasa Princess Yōko of Mikasa Princess Tsuguko of Takamado Princess Noriko of Takamado** Princess Ayako of Takamado**
5th generation	Aiko, Princess Toshi Princess Mako of Akishino** Princess Kako of Akishino
* Reduced to commoner status with the abolition of titles of nobility by the American occupation authorities. ** Lost the title upon her marriage.

• 1951 births
• Living people
• Japanese princesses
• People from Shinagawa
• Grand Cordons (Imperial Family) of the Order of the Precious Crown
• Gakushuin University alumni