Japanese Princess Yuriko, who was the oldest member of the imperial family of Japan, died at the age of 101 years on November 15, 2024 (Friday) in Tokyo. The news of her death was confirmed by the Imperial Household Agency saying Princess Yuriko passed away at around 6.30AM on Friday due to old age. Meanwhile, Japanese media reports it was due to pneumonia.
Princess Yuriko is the great-aunt of Emperor Naruhito, who currently heads Japan’s imperial family.
As per reports, Princess Yuriko had a stroke earlier this year after which she was hospitalized at St. Luke’s International Hospital in Tokyo. After regaining her health, she was shifted from the intensive care unit. However, on November 8 her health deteriorated, the palace officials had announced.
Princess Yuriko: The oldest member of Japan’s imperial family
Yuriko Takagi (her maiden name) was born on June 4, 1923, in a nobel family. In 1941, at the age of 18, she married Prince Mikasa, who was the youngest brother of the Emperor Hirohito. Price Mikasa and Princess Yuriko had five children together: three sons (who have now passed away), and two daughters (who are living). On October 22, 2016, Price Mikasa and Princess Yuriko celebrated their 75th wedding anniversarry at the Prince’s hospital room. Five days later, Prince Mikasa– who is posthumously known as Emperor Showa– passed away with his wife, Princess Yuriko, by his side.
In this file photo provided by the Imperial Household Agency of Japan, Japanese Prince Mikasa, right, and his wife Princess Yuriko talk at their residence in Tokyo, Nov. 16, 2015. (Imperial Household Agency of Japan via AP, File)
Princess Yuriko turned 101 years old on June 4 this year, which made her the oldest member of Japan’s Imperial family since the Meiji era started towards the late 19th century.
‘During her life, Princess Yuriko was the honorary president of various charitable organizations and played an active role in the Japanese Red Cross Society,’ reads a report by Tokyo Weekender.
All about Japan’s imperial family
Naruhito is the current Emperor of Japan. Born on February 23, 1960, Naruhito acceded to the Chrysanthemum Throne on May 1, 2019 after his father’s abdication– this began the Reiwa era. Emperor Naruhito is the 126th monarch of Japan’s Imeprial family as per their traditional order of succession.
Emperor Naruhito married hiw wife Owada Masako (now Empress) in 1993. They have only one child, Princess Aiko.
As per the Imperial Household Law of 1947, members of the imperial line can inherit the Chrysanthemum throne only if they are male. Since Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako had only one child– a daughter– and this made the line of succession in the Japanese royal family uncertain for a while. It even gave rise to debates in Japan on whether the law should be changes so that first-born women can also inherit the throne. But the debate was put to rest, when Emperor Naruhito’s brother, Fumihito, had a son in 2006. So, now the line of succession in the Japanese Imperial family will see the throne pass to Crown Prince Fumihito, followed by his son, Prince Hisahito.
Prince Hisahito, nephew of Emperor Naruhito and second in line to the Chrysanthemum throne, turned 18 years old in 2024. This made him the first male in the Japanese royal family to turn an adult in 39 years! Read more about him here.
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