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Yuriko, Princess Mikasa

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Yuriko
Princess Mikasa
Yuriko in 1980
BornYuriko Takagi (高木百合子)
(1923-06-04)4 June 1923
Tokyo, Japan
Died15 November 2024(2024-11-15) (aged 101)
Chūō, Tokyo, Japan
Spouse
​
​
(m. 1941; died 2016)​
Issue
HouseImperial House of Japan
FatherMasanari Takagi
MotherKuniko Irie

Yuriko, Princess Mikasa (崇仁親王妃百合子, Takahito Shinnōhi Yuriko) (born Yuriko Takagi (高木百合子, Takagi Yuriko), 4 June 1923 – 15 November 2024), was a member of the Imperial House of Japan as the wife of Takahito, Prince Mikasa, the fourth son of Emperor Taishō and Empress Teimei. The Princess was the last surviving paternal great-aunt by marriage of Emperor Naruhito and, before her death, was the oldest member of the imperial family, and the final living member who was born in the Taishō era.

Early life

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Princess Mikasa was born as Yuriko Takagi on 4 June, 1923 at Takagi's family house in Tokyo, as the second daughter of Viscount Masanari Takagi (1894–1948) and his wife, Kuniko Irie (1901–1988).[1]

Her father was a member of the Takagi clan, formerly lords of the small feudal domain of Tan'nan; through her father, she was a great-great-granddaughter of Hotta Masayoshi, a prominent rōjū, or shōgunal minister, during the Bakumatsu period. Her mother was descended from the noble Yanagihara clan, and was a second cousin of Emperor Shōwa. The Emperor's grandmother, Lady Yanagiwara Naruko, was Kuniko's great-aunt.[2]

Yuriko graduated from Gakushuin Women's Academy in 1941.[3]

Marriage

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Yuriko leaving her home to marry Takahito, Prince Mikasa
Yuriko and Takahito's wedding portrait

On 29 March, 1941, Yuriko's engagement to her second cousin once removed, Takahito, Prince Mikasa, was announced. The engagement ceremony was held on 3 October, 1941, and the wedding ceremony took place on 22 October, 1941; this was less than two months before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor which led to the United States entering World War II.[4][5] After her marriage, Yuriko was styled Her Imperial Highness The Princess Mikasa.[6]

The Princess Mikasa frequently visited her husband, who was hospitalized during his final months. On 22 October, 2016, they celebrated their 75th wedding anniversary in his hospital room.[7] Prince Mikasa died five days later, with Princess Yuriko at his side.[7] The Princess led her husband's funeral ceremony as the chief mourner.[8]

The Prince and Princess had five children. The couple's two daughters, which are their only surviving children, left the imperial family upon marriage.[9] All three sons predeceased them. In addition to their five children, they had nine grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren as of 2022.[10] Of her grandchildren, only three granddaughters remain in the imperial family, with two other granddaughters losing their imperial family status upon marriage.[9][11]

Children

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Princess Yuriko and her three eldest children

Public service

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Princess tree, Paulownia tomentosa, designated imperial personal emblem of Yuriko

Princess Mikasa was the honorary president of various charitable organizations, especially those concerned with the preservation of traditional Japanese culture. She also played an active role in the Japanese Red Cross Society.[12]

In 1948, the Princess became President of the Imperial Gift Foundation Boshi-Aiiku-kai, a position that she resigned from in September 2010. She had attended several formal occasions in Tokyo as well as other parts of Japan associated with charities concerned with mother and child health issues.[12]

Declining health and death

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The princess had used a pacemaker since 1999. She was notably absent from the 2019 enthronement of Emperor Naruhito.[13]

In September 2020, the 97-year-old was hospitalized with symptoms of heart failure and pneumonia, but after two weeks was subsequently released.[14][15]

Princess Yuriko in 2012

She was admitted to St. Luke's International Hospital in March 2021 due to arrhythmia. It was also announced that her condition was not critical and she was discharged within a few days as her symptoms subsided.[16][17]

In July 2022, the princess was reported to have tested positive for COVID-19 and been hospitalized at St. Luke's International Hospital.[18][19][20] She turned 100 on 4 June 2023.[21]

In early March 2024, the princess was hospitalised at St. Luke's International Hospital due to a mild cerebral infarction and stroke;[22][23] on 11 March, she was transferred from the intensive care unit to the general ward, as a sign that she was recovering, even if she was unable to eat, but started drinking water.[24][25] On 18 March, it was announced by the Imperial Household Agency that she experienced symptoms of heart failure and cerebral infarction again, and it was difficult for her to move her right arm and leg: thus, she continued to be treated at St. Luke's International Hospital.[26][27]

On 25 March, it was announced that her symptoms of heart failure and cerebral infarction significantly improved (to a level close to when she was first transferred to the general ward of the hospital) and she would begin to do rehabilitation.[28] She celebrated her 101st birthday on 4 June in the hospital, and was visited by her daughter-in-law Hisako, Princess Takamado and by her granddaughters Princess Akiko, Princess Yōko, and Princess Tsuguko.[29] On 16 August, Yuriko was brought back to the intensive care of the hospital after being diagnosed with pneumonia;[30][31] on 9 September, she returned to the general ward from the intensive care unit as her conditions improved.[32][33]

An examination conducted on 7 November, 2024, revealed declining overall body function, including heart and kidneys.[34] She was doing rehabilitation, such as sitting in a wheelchair, since her admittance into the hospital in March. On 9 November, following the announcement of her declining health, Princess Akiko, who quickly returned from the United Kingdom where she was to complete an unofficial visit, visited her grandmother with Princess Yōko, Princess Hisako and Yasuko Konoe.[35][36][37] Princess Nobuko canceled her planned 11–12 November visit to Kyoto, to see her mother-in-law.[38] On 11 November, the Imperial Household Agency announced that the health of Princess Yuriko was still deteriorating; Princesses Akiko, Hisako and Tsuguko visited her one after the other.[39][40] Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako were informed of her condition, to which they expressed concern.[41] During the same day, it was reported by the Imperial Household Agency that her consciousness was "in a reduced state", and more members of the Imperial family came to visit her.[42] On 14 November, the Imperial Household Agency's grand steward, Yasuhiko Nishimura [ja], reported that Yuriko was losing consciousness: in the afternoon Princesses Akiko, Hisako, and Tsuguko visited again.[43]

On 15 November, 2024, at 6:32 am (JST), Princess Mikasa died at St. Luke's International Hospital in Tokyo, aged 101.[44][45][46] She was surrounded by her granddaughters Akiko, Yōko, and Tsuguko, as well as her daughter-in-law Princess Hisako.[47] The Imperial Household agency posted a statement on Instagram to announce her death.[48] Later that day, Emperor Naruhito, Empress Masako, and Princess Aiko visited the Mikasa residence to pay their respects.[49][50][51][52] Yuriko's body was later taken back to Tokyo.[49][53][54] The imperial family entered into a mourning period due to her death. Emperor Naruhito's family, the Emperor Emeritus and Empress Emerita, Crown Prince Akishino's family, and the Prince and Princess Hitachi will observe five days of mourning, while the Mikasa and Takamado families will be in mourning for thirty days.[55] Emperor Naruhito also canceled official duties.[56] The Emperor Emeritus and Empress Emerita also sent their condolences on 15 November, respectively.[57]

The Imperial Household Agency revealed that her official cause of death was "old age".[58] Following her cause of death being announced as "old age", by the Imperial Household Agency, Japanese news outlets started to state it was due to pneumonia. But the Imperial Household Agency has not yet publicly cited or stated a cause of death, so the official cause of death remains as "old age".[59]

Yuriko's funeral will be held on 26 November 2024.[60] It was also announced that her granddaughter, Princess Akiko, would be the chief mourner.[60] The Imperial Household Agency also announced on Instagram that people were invited to sign a condolence book at the Mikasa residence.[61] On 16 November, her private rites were held at the Mikasa estate. All members of the imperial family attended. Yuriko's sons-in-law, Tadateru Konoe and Sōshitsu Sen XVI, greeted members of the imperial family at arrival and departure along with Mikasa family staff.[62] Her wake will take place on 24–25 November.[63]

Honours

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See also: List of honours of the Japanese Imperial Family by country
Mon of the Mikasa branch of the Imperial Family

National

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Foreign

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Honorary positions

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Issue

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Name Birth Death Marriage Issue
Date Spouse
Yasuko Konoe
(Princess Yasuko of Mikasa)		 (1944-04-26) 26 April 1944 (age 80) 16 December 1966 Tadateru Konoe Tadahiro Konoe
Prince Tomohito of Mikasa 5 January 1946 6 June 2012 7 November 1980 Nobuko Asō Princess Akiko of Mikasa
Princess Yōko of Mikasa
Yoshihito, Prince Katsura 11 February 1948 8 June 2014 None
Masako Sen
(Princess Masako of Mikasa)		 (1951-10-23) 23 October 1951 (age 73) 14 October 1983 Sōshitsu Sen XVI Akifumi Kikuchi
Makiko Sakata
Takafumi Sen
Norihito, Prince Takamado 29 December 1954 21 November 2002 6 December 1984 Hisako Tottori Princess Tsuguko of Takamado
Noriko Senge
(Princess Noriko of Takamado)
Ayako Moriya
(Princess Ayako of Takamado)

References

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