Hara Asa
Hara Asa (April 1871 – March 2, 1923) was the wife of Hara Kei, the 19th Prime Minister of Japan.
Hara Asa was born in 1871 in Iwayado-cho, Esashi-gun, Iwate Prefecture where she was raised. Her father was Sugano Yatarō, their family was poor. She worked as a geisha at the "Momijikan" in Karasumori, Tokyo.[1] In 1896, she was introduced to Ritsu, the mother of her future husband Hara Kei, and began frequenting the Hara household.[2] In 1905, Hara Kei divorced his wife Nakai Sadako due to personality clashes. In 1908, Hara Asa married Hara Kei, she assumed the position of hostess of the Hara household. After their marriage, Hara Asa frequently accompanied her husband to social events. In 1921, Hara Kei was assassinated. She tidied her husband's appearance and made funeral arrangements. She also transferred all the money her husband had left her to his successor Takahashi Korekiyo.[3] On March 2, 1923, Hara Asa died of pneumonia at the age of 51.[4]
References
[edit]- ↑ "明治美人伝 長谷川時雨". AOZORA.
- ↑ 『「家系図」と「お屋敷」で読み解く歴代総理大臣 明治・大正篇』竹内正浩、実業之日本社, 2017, 「第三章 原敬」の項
- ↑ "The Untold Story of the Japanese Prime Minister and Geisha". Chinanews. Retrieved 2013-11-20.
- ↑ 『大正過去帳 : 物故人名辞典』（東京美術、1973年）p.275