Niwata Tsuguko (庭田嗣子)
Tsuguko NIWATA (1820 - Dec. 4, 1867) was Naishi no suke (a court lady of the first rank) serving Emperor Ninko.
Summary
Her father was Shigeyoshi NIWATA, who was Dainagon (Major Counselor). Her mother was a daughter of Ietaka OINOMIKADO. She had brothers including Shigemoto NIWATA and Takanaka ITSUTSUJI. In the imperial court, she was called new Naishi no suke or prime minister of Naishi no suke.
In 1834, she attended the imperial court for the first time. In 1836, she began to serve Emperor Ninko as Naishi no suke. Emperor Ninko demised in 1846 but Tsuguko was not allowed to retire. She stayed in the imperial court to act as an advisor of the consort of the emperor.
In 1860, when Imperial Princess Kazunomiya Chikako, who was a sister of the Emperor Komei, was engaged to marry Iemochi TOKUGAWA, who was Seitaishogun (commander-in-chief of the expeditionary force against the barbarians, great, unifying leader) in the form of koka (the marriage of an Imperial princess to an ordinary person), she was ordered to serve Princess Kazunomiya and went down to Edo with her. In the inner palace of Edo Castle called O-oku, she made a substantial contribution as a close adviser of Princess Kazunomiya, in cooperation with Tsuneko HASHIMOTO (Kangyoin), who was the real mother of the princess. In the O-oku, she was conferred the rank of Joro Kamiza (highest rank woman servant in the Imperial Court)along with Kangyoin. Even after Kangyoin died in 1865, she remained royal to Princess Kazunomiya throughout her life, while being in conflict with Tenshoin or Otoshiyori of O-oku who criticized the princess.
In 1867, she died in the inner palace of Edo Castle. Her tomb is located in Konkai Komyo-ji Temple at Kurodani-cho, Kyoto City.