TOKYO. Princess Yuriko, the oldest member of Japan’s imperial family and the sister-in-law of wartime Emperor Hirohito, passed away Friday at the age of 101, according to the Imperial Household Agency. The agency did not disclose the cause of death, though Japanese media reported it was due to pneumonia. Princess Yuriko’s passing marks the end of an era and further reduces the size of Japan’s already shrinking imperial family.
Born into aristocracy in 1923, Princess Yuriko married Prince Mikasa, Emperor Hirohito’s younger brother, at the age of 18, shortly before World War II began. In a poignant account of wartime hardship, she once recalled living in a shelter with her husband and their infant daughter after U.S. fire bombings destroyed their Tokyo residence in 1945.
The princess was a devoted partner to Prince Mikasa, who pursued research in ancient Near Eastern history. Together, they raised five children while she fulfilled her royal duties and supported various charitable activities. Princess Yuriko outlived her husband and all three of her sons, and her passing reduces Japan’s imperial family to only 16 members, with only four being male—a fact that intensifies Japan’s longstanding succession concerns.
The succession dilemma is compounded by the strict 1947 Imperial House Law, which mandates male-only succession and removes royal status from female members who marry commoners. Currently, the youngest male in the imperial family, Prince Hisahito, Emperor Naruhito’s nephew, is the only remaining heir apparent. This limitation has spurred debate within Japan, as the government explores potential adjustments to ensure the imperial line’s continuity.
Known for her robust health as a centenarian, Princess Yuriko had maintained a daily routine of exercise, watching a fitness program on television, and reading multiple newspapers. The Imperial Household Agency noted that she had enjoyed morning exercises, watching news and baseball, and spending time in the palace gardens. Her health began to decline in March after she suffered a stroke and pneumonia, and she had been in and out of intensive care over recent months.
Princess Yuriko’s life spanned eras of profound change in Japan, and her legacy reflects the deep resilience and dedication of the imperial family amid ongoing debates over its future in a modernizing Japan.
Paraluman P. Funtanilla
Paraluman P. Funtanilla is Tutubi News Magazine's Marketing Specialist and is a Contributing Editor. She finished her degree in Communication Arts in De La Salle Lipa. She has worked as a Digital Marketer for start-up businesses and small business spaces for the past two years. She has earned certificates from Coursera on Brand Management: Aligning Business Brand and Behavior and Viral Marketing and How to Craft Contagious Content. She also worked with Asia Express Romania TV Show.
