The program "Platinum Family: A Glimpse into the Lives of a Glamorous Family" (TV Asahi, Tuesdays at 7 PM *excluding some regions) introduces the lifestyles of "glamorous families." In the May 12th broadcast, the Japanese wife of Balthus, the world-renowned French painter who was praised by Picasso as "the last great master of the 20th century," will be featured.
Balthus's wife, who supported him throughout his life, was known as "Madame Setsuko," and was a descendant of the Kikuchi clan, a powerful family in Kyushu that served the imperial family for 450 years, starting from the Heian period. She also shared the same roots as Saigo Takamori and is said to be part of a hybrid platinum family connected to the lineage of the Sengoku period warlord Mori Motonari.
Setsuko's home in Switzerland boasts an astonishingly large plot of land, covering 2 hectares—equivalent to approximately 76 tennis courts. The 300-year-old mansion is the largest wooden building in Switzerland and is designated a national historical and cultural heritage site. Originally built by a wealthy farmer to store cheese, it served as a beloved hotel for 120 years before Setsuko purchased it 50 years ago. It features 47 rooms, all utilizing the original 300-year-old timber.
Balthus and Setsuko met in Kyoto about 60 years ago, despite a 34-year age difference. Setsuko, then 20 years old and studying French at Sophia University, had a fateful encounter with Balthus, who was visiting Paris to select works to exhibit at a show there. Setsuko was deeply impressed by Balthus's profound knowledge of Japanese culture, which was influenced by Ukiyo-e prints and other Japanese art forms, and she fell in love with him, dropping out of university. She went to Rome, where he was living at the time, and they married after a five-year relationship.
The program infiltrated Setsuko's 84th birthday party. The venue was Les Invalides, a museum in Paris that houses Napoleon's tomb. The party took place in the palace's drawing-room, which is normally off-limits to the public, and was attended by a host of VIPs including film director Wim Wenders, Grammy Award-winning singer Kylie Minogue, and fashion designer Christian Louboutin.
Furthermore, the film will also reveal footage of the extraordinary party, including a presentation of an original song to Setsuko by Bono, the world-renowned rock artist who has won 22 Grammy Awards and is like family to Setsuko.
