| Tokugawa Masako | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Empress consort of Japan | |
| Tenure | 1624–1629 |
| Born | November 23, 1607 |
| Died | August 2, 1678 (aged 70) |
| Spouse | |
| Issue |
|
| House | Tokugawa Clan (by birth) Imperial House of Japan (by marriage) |
| Father | Tokugawa Hidetada |
| Mother | Oeyo |
Tokugawa Masako (徳川 和子, November 23, 1607 – August 2, 1678), also known as Kazu-ko,[1] was the Empress consort of Japan as wife of Emperor Go-Mizunoo. She was a prominent and influential figure the Imperial-shogunate ties and relations, because of her collaboration with her parents Oeyo and Tokugawa Hidetada, the second shōgun of the Edo period.
Masako's daughter, Imperial Princess Onna-Ichi-no-miya Okiko, succeeded her father. She ascended the Chrysanthemum Throne as Empress Meishō.[4] Meishō would be succeeded by two of her half-brothers, who would later become known as Emperor Go-Kōmyō and Emperor Go-Sai. Both had been brought up by Masako as if they were her own sons.[5]
Masako had two younger daughters were Princess Teruko (1625-1651) who married Konoe Hisatsugu, and Princess Akiko (1629-1675), also known as the Third Princess.
She used her wealth to bring together Edo and Kyoto and also to help maintain the high standards of the court. She also used it to restore significant buildings that had been damaged in the previous years of warring. Many of these restorations were originally credited to her brother Iemitsu, or her husband, but have recently been properly credited to her. Another important way she used her money is as a representation of the Tokugawa clan. When Masako and Lady Kasuga broke a taboo by visiting the imperial court as a commoner, Emperor Go-Mizunoo abdicated, embarrassed, and Meisho became empress. The shōgun, Tokugawa Iemitsu, was now the uncle of the sitting monarch.
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