Princess Sumiko

Princess Sumiko (1829-1881), was a Japanese princess. She was the head of the Katsura-no-miya from 1863 until 1881.

Princess Sumiko was the daughter of Emperor Ninkō. She was the sister of Chikako, Princess Kazu. She married Prince Yamashina Akira. In 1863, she succeeded to the head of the Katsura-no-miya house in her own right upon the death of the eleventh head, Prince Katsura Misahito. The Katsura-no-miya house was one of the four shinnōke, branches of the Imperial Family of Japan which were eligible to succeed to the Chrysanthemum Throne in the event that the main line should die out. This was a very unusual position for a woman.