Princess Yuriko Mikasa poses for a photograph ahead of her 100th birthday, Minato Ward, Tokyo (provided by the Imperial Household Agency).
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On November 15 at 6:32 AM, Japan's Princess Yuriko Mikasa passed away at St Luke's International Hospital in Tokyo's Chuo Ward. She was 101.
As the oldest member of the Imperial Family, Princess Yuriko had supported the Mikasa household since her marriage in 1941. The Princess was a steadfast supporter of her late husband, Prince Takahito Mikasa, who was dedicated to historical scholarship. Due to the imminent outbreak of war between Japan and the United States, their wedding had to be a modest affair. With her passing, the Imperial Family now comprises 16 members.
Health Challenges
In May 1999, Princess Yuriko underwent surgery at St Luke's International Hospital, where a pacemaker was implanted to address ischemic heart disease (angina). Years later, in July 2007, she had surgery for colon cancer. She was diagnosed with heart failure in 2020 and paroxysmal atrial fibrillation in 2021, for which she received treatment.
Princess Yuriko spent her later years quietly at the Mikasa Residence in the Akasaka Estate (Minato Ward). There, she enjoyed observing the growth of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. However, in March 2024, she was hospitalized due to a stroke and aspiration pneumonia. Following this, her heart, kidneys, and other functions declined.
Dedication and Service
Alongside Prince Mikasa, Princess Yuriko was dedicated to international goodwill. During her lifetime, she attended events such as the 2,500th anniversary of Ceylon's founding in 1956 and the 50th anniversary of Japanese immigration to Brazil in 1958.
Furthermore, she was also present at the coronation of Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands in 1980. Princess Yuriko served as the president of the Imperial Gift Foundation Boshi-Aiiku-kai, promoting maternal and child health for nearly 60 years until 2010. Additionally, she contributed to the global promotion of ikebana (Japanese flower arranging).
Princess Yuriko served as Honorary Vice President of the Japanese Red Cross Society and held numerous other presidential and honorary roles during her life. Attending numerous events across the country, she offered words of encouragement to everyone involved.
Upon her appointment as Honorary President of the Association for Promoting the National Costume Culture of Japan, she suggested a change. She recommended that the association not only work to pass down the culture of kimono dressing but also recognize individuals with notable achievements in dyeing techniques. Each year, she would attend the annual award ceremonies, where she interacted with those involved in these efforts.
Through War and Peace
While Prince Mikasa served in the military, Princess Yuriko remained at home to manage the household. Near the end of the war, however, an air raid by US forces destroyed their residence. They endured hardships in their married life, even spending some time living in air-raid shelters.
As postwar chaos began to settle, Princess Yuriko joined Prince Mikasa in attending haiku gatherings. They adopted the shared pen name Yukari after they took up haiku writing. In 1957, they published a haiku collection titled Hatsuyuki (First Snow).
After the war, as Prince Mikasa pursued his path as a historian, Princess Yuriko became a supportive partner. She assisted her husband in his research on historical sites in the Middle East by filming movies and slides. These served as valuable materials for his lectures.
Family, Loss, and Love
Princess Yuriko was born on June 4, 1923, as the second daughter of Viscount Masanari Takagi. In October 1941, she married Prince Takahito Mikasa, and they had five children together. Her three sons were Prince Tomohito, Prince Yoshihito (Prince Katsura), and Prince Norihito (Prince Takamado). Yasuko (wife of Tadahiro Konoe) and Masako (wife of Soshitsu Sen) were her two daughters. As a parent, she suffered the loss of Prince Takamado in 2002, Prince Tomohito in 2012, and Prince Katsura in 2014. After the passing of Prince Mikasa in 2016, she became the head of the Mikasa family.
As the eldest daughter Yasuko prepared for her marriage in the autumn of 1966, Prince Mikasa said, "This will be toughest on my wife. I'm never sure what to do, so I just stand by and watch. Once Yasuko marries and leaves, she will be lonely." His words conveyed both his deep affection for Yasuko and his reliance on Princess Yuriko.
To celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary, the couple held a diamond wedding anniversary party in Marunouchi, Tokyo, on October 22, 2001.
Mutual Gratitude and Support
Ten years later, on October 22, 2011, on the occasion of their 70th wedding anniversary, the couple each published a message expressing their gratitude toward one another. This was the first time they had shared such personal reflections. At the time, Prince Mikasa was 95, and Princess Yuriko was 88.
"Looking back,” Prince Mikasa wrote, “without a doubt, it was my wife Yuriko who supported me publicly and privately for 70 years." He continued, "Though my wife came from a noble family, life in the imperial family is even more demanding and busy. The hardships she endured in managing our home while I was away must have been extraordinary." The prince's words expressed profound gratitude and affection for his wife. Together, they had navigated the turbulent years of war and its aftermath, continually supporting each other.
Before the war, when Prince Mikasa was serving in the army, he studied Chinese using educational records. Princess Yuriko took on the task of playing and changing the records. When the war concluded, the Prince studied history at the University of Tokyo's Faculty of Letters. During this time, he would borrow notes from friends for the classes he missed due to official duties. Princess Yuriko would then stay up late into the night, transcribing them.
A Profound Bond
"I cannot even find the words to express my gratitude to Yuriko," Prince Mikasa wrote. In her message, Princess Yuriko expressed, "Thanks to His Highness, who has always cared for me despite my frailty, I have lived to this day. I have no words to express my gratitude." Their heartfelt messages to one another conveyed the profound bond they shared.
An acquaintance of Princess Yuriko shared that she often delighted in showing a photo of a young Prince Mikasa riding a horse. "He looks so dignified, doesn't he?" she would remark. The prince is buried in Toshimagaoka Imperial Cemetery in Bunkyo Ward, Tokyo. As long as her health permitted, Princess Yuriko visited his grave on the anniversary of his death.
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Read the articles in Japanese here and here.
Author. The Sankei Shimbun
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