 A series of tragedies hit Princess Kazu between 1865 and 1867.Her mother, who followed her to Edo to keep her company, died on 10 August 1865, followed by her husband "shōgun" Iemochi, who died in Osaka while commanding the Chōshū Expedition on 20 July 1866.She became a Buddhist nun, receiving the title of Seikan'in-no-miya 
(静寛院宮) on 9 December 1866, but just a few weeks later her brother Emperor Komei would also pass away.