Tokyo
Princess Yuriko, the oldest member of Japan’s imperial family and great-aunt of Emperor Naruhito, passed away on Friday at the age of 101 in a Tokyo hospital, the Imperial Household Agency announced. Her death reduces the number of members in the imperial family to just 16, following the strict rules of the 1947 Imperial House Law, which mandates that female members must leave upon marrying a commoner.
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba expressed his condolences, calling the loss deeply saddening and extending his sympathy to the Japanese people.
Princess Yuriko, born in 1923, married Prince Mikasa, the younger brother of Emperor Hirohito (Emperor Showa), in 1941. They had five children, though tragically, their three sons—Princes Tomohito, Katsura, and Takamado—predeceased her. Prince Mikasa passed away in 2016 at the age of 100.
She was known for her active involvement in public service, including her role as honorary vice president of the Japanese Red Cross Society and as president of the Boshi-Aiiku-Kai, a foundation dedicated to maternal and child health.
Princess Yuriko’s legacy continues through her grandchildren, with three granddaughters remaining in the imperial family. Two others, Princesses Noriko and Ayako, gave up their titles upon marrying commoners in 2014 and 2018.
