Princess Yuriko, the oldest member of the Japanese imperial family, dies

This Friday, November 15, 2024, will go down as one of the darkest days in Japan's history.Princess Yuriko, the longest-serving member of the Japanese imperial family, has died at a hospital in the capital, according to the Imperial Household Agency. The agency has preferred not to make public the causes of the princess's death.

Japanese media had been reporting in recent weeks on the difficulties, due to her age, that Princess Yuriko was going through. She passed away at the age of 101. Born in 1923, Yuriko married Prince Mikasa, the younger brother of Emperor Hirohito, in 1941 and was an active figure in Japanese public life.

The role of Princess Yuriko in Japanese society and the Imperial Family

She presided over numerous charitable and cultural organizations, including honorary roles at institutions such as the Japanese Red Cross Society. In addition, she was also president of the Cultural Foundation for the Promotion of Japan's National Costume. After the death of her husband Mikasa in 2016, Yuriko remained one of the greatest emblems of Japan's imperial house until today.

Japan is currently facing a succession problem, as only three members are eligible, according to EFE: Crown Prince Akishino, 58; his son, Prince Hisahito, 18; and the latter's great-uncle, Prince Hitachi, 88. Emeritus Emperor Akihito is currently 90 years old. Nahurito, the current emperor, is 64 years old.

Women play a fundamental role in the Japanese imperial family. Princess Yuriko was the example of the 11 who currently make up the family. In total, there are 16 members of the Japanese imperial family with the recent death of Yuriko.