"Platinum Family" (TV Asahi, Tuesdays at 7pm *excluding some areas) is a variety show that gives a glimpse into the lives of the "gorgeous family = Platinum Family." On May 20th, a two-hour special will air, featuring Miki Yamagishi, the great-great-granddaughter of Yoshinobu Tokugawa, the 15th Shogun of the Edo Shogunate.
Yamagishi's great-aunt, the late Princess Kikuko of Takamatsu, is a member of the imperial family, making her a true platinum family. The program visits Yamagishi's English-style mansion in Tateshina, Nagano Prefecture, a famous resort town, and explores her lifestyle, diverse hobbies, and the feelings she has as a descendant of a great man.
Yamagishi has a villa in Tateshina, where he lives with his home in Nagoya. Though it is a villa, the land is about 3300m² in size. The building, designed in the style of an old British house, is filled with the couple's personal preferences, and is filled with interior items purchased in the UK. The vast garden is also well-maintained, and in June it turns into an English garden with numerous roses in bloom. Inside the mansion, there are displays of cut glass vases that once belonged to Princess Kikuko of Takamatsu, as well as photographs of former British King Edward VIII, Emperor Showa, and Yamagishi's grandfather.
Although Yamagishi-san has great ancestors, she reveals her true feelings, "Being the great-great-grandson of Tokugawa Yoshinobu, there aren't many good things about him." Her husband, Naoto-san, says, "Tokugawa Yoshinobu is a historical figure to everyone, but to her, he's not a story about history, he's a story about family. The way you perceive history and family is completely different." He speaks from the perspective of someone who has seen it up close.
The program also visited Ueno Toshogu Shrine, which has a deep connection to the Tokugawa family, and was able to cover the main shrine which can only be viewed on special days. Ieyasu, Yoshimune, and Yoshinobu are enshrined here, and Yamagishi said, "The fact that such a magnificent building has survived to this day is the result of the efforts of those who came before. I'm honored that it has been protected in such a place."
On this day's program, the program will also visit the home of Nitobe Tsunenori, the 8th head of the Nitobe family, whose ancestor is Nitobe Inazo, whose portrait is also featured on the old 5,000 yen bill, in Towada City, Aomori Prefecture, where he will display a number of valuable treasures.
