Yuriko, Princess Mikasa

Yuriko, Princess Mikasa(Sùng nhân thân vương phi bách hợp tử,Takahito Shinnōhi Yuriko)(bornYuriko Takagi(Cao mộc bách hợp tử,Takagi Yuriko),4 June 1923 – 15 November 2024) was a member of theImperial House of Japanas the wife ofTakahito, Prince Mikasa,the fourth son ofEmperor TaishōandEmpress Teimei.The Princess was the last surviving paternal great-aunt by marriage ofEmperor Naruhitoand, before her death, was the oldest member of the imperial family, and the final living member who was born in theTaishō era.

Yuriko
Princess Mikasa
Yuriko in 1980
BornYuriko Takagi(Cao mộc bách hợp tử)
(1923-06-04)4 June 1923
Tokyo,Japan
Died15 November 2024(2024-11-15)(aged 101)
Chūō, Tokyo,Japan
Burial26 November 2024
Spouse
(m.1941;died2016)
Issue
HouseImperial House of Japan
FatherMasanari Takagi
MotherKuniko Irie

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 ofViscountMasanari Takagi(1894–1948) and his wife, Kuniko Irie (1901–1988).[1]

Her father was a member of the Takagi clan, formerly lords of thesmall feudal domain of Tan'nan;through her father, she was a great-great-granddaughter ofHotta Masayoshi,a prominentrōjū,or shōgunal minister, during theBakumatsuperiod. Her mother was descended from the noble Yanagihara clan, and was a second cousin ofEmperor Shōwa.The Emperor's grandmother, LadyYanagiwara Naruko,was Kuniko's great-aunt.[2]

Yuriko graduated fromGakushuinWomen's Academy in 1941.[3]

Marriage

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Yuriko leaving her home to marryTakahito, 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 theJapanese attack on Pearl Harborwhich led to theUnited States entering World War II.[4][5]After her marriage, Yuriko was styledHer Imperial Highness The Princess Mikasa.[6]Later on the couple and their first child were forced to live in a shelter after their residence was incinerated in theUS fire bombings of Tokyoin 1945.[7]Yuriko described the atmosphere during the final months of the war as "very frightening" with "heated arguments and tension, as if bullets were about to fly".[8]She became involved with domestic duties as the family struggled financially in post-war years.[8]

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.[9]Prince Mikasa died five days later, with Princess Yuriko at his side.[9]The Princess led her husband's funeral ceremony as the chief mourner.[10]

The Prince and Princess had five children. The couple's two daughters, which are their only surviving children, left the imperial family upon marriage.[11]All three sons predeceased them. In addition to their five children, they had nine grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren as of 2022.[12]Of her grandchildren, only three granddaughters remain in the imperial family, with two other granddaughters losing their imperial family status upon marriage.[11][13]

Children

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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 variouscharitable organizations,especially those concerned with the preservation of traditionalJapanese culture.She also played an active role in theJapanese Red CrossSociety.[14]

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.[14]

Declining health and death

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The princess had used apacemakersince 1999.[1]She underwent surgery forcolon cancerin 2007.[1]She was notably absent from the2019 enthronementofEmperor Naruhito.[15]

Yuriko in 2012

In September 2020, the 97-year-old was hospitalized with symptoms of heart failure andpneumonia,and was released after two weeks.[16][17]She was admitted toSt. Luke's International Hospitalin March 2021 due toarrhythmia.It was also announced that her condition was not critical and she was discharged within a few days as her symptoms subsided.[18][19]In July 2022, the princess was reported to have tested positive forCOVID-19and been hospitalized at St. Luke's International Hospital.[20][21][22]Sheturned 100on 4 June 2023.[23]

In early March 2024, the princess was hospitalised at St. Luke's International Hospital due to a mildcerebral infarctionand stroke;[24][25]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.[26][27]On 18 March, it was announced by theImperial Household Agencythat she experienced symptoms ofheart failureand 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.[28][29]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.[30]She celebrated her 101st birthday on 4 June in the hospital, and was visited by her daughter-in-lawHisako, Princess Takamadoand by her granddaughtersPrincess Akiko,Princess Yōko,andPrincess Tsuguko.[31]On 16 August, Yuriko was brought back to the intensive care of the hospital after being diagnosed withpneumonia;[32][33]on 9 September, she returned to the general ward from the intensive care unit as her conditions improved.[34][35]

An examination conducted on 7 November 2024 revealed declining overall body function, including heart and kidneys.[36]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, she was visited by several of her immediate relatives.[37][38][39][40]On 11 November, the Imperial Household Agency announced that the health of Princess Yuriko was still deteriorating.[41][42]Emperor Naruhito andEmpress Masakowere informed of her condition, to which they expressed concern.[43]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.[44]On 14 November, the Imperial Household Agency's grand steward,Yasuhiko Nishimura[ja],reported that Yuriko was losing consciousness.[45]

On 15 November 2024, at 6:32 am (JST), Princess Mikasa died at St. Luke's International Hospital in Tokyo, aged 101.[46][47][7]She was surrounded by her granddaughters Akiko, Yōko, and Tsuguko, as well as her daughter-in-law Princess Hisako.[48]The Imperial Household Agency posted a statement onInstagramto announce her death,[49]and stated that her official cause of death was "old age".[50]Subsequently Japanese news outlets started to state her death was due to pneumonia.[51]Yuriko's body was later taken back to Tokyo.[52][53][54]

The imperial family entered into a mourning period due to her death.[55]Emperor Naruhito also canceled official duties.[56]On 16 November, her private rites were held at the Mikasa estate with all members of the imperial family in attendance.[57]Emperor Naruhito, Empress Masako,Emperor Emeritus AkihitoandEmpress Emerita Michiko,who all usually do not attend farewell services, did not attend the wake, but did visit her residence to pay condolences on 24 November shortly before the wake.[58][59]Her wake at her Minato Ward residence began on 24 November and concluded on 25 November, with members of the Japanese imperial family, includingCrown Prince Fumihito,Crown Princess Kiko,Princess Aiko,Japanese Prime MinisterShigeru Ishibaand his cabinet in attendance.[59][58][60][61]Yuriko's funeral was held at Toshimagaoka Cemetery in Tokyo's Bunkyo Ward on 26 November 2024, with 481 people in attendance.[62][63][64]Her granddaughter Princess Akiko served as the chief mourner for both her wake and her funeral.[63][64][59]Her body was cremated at Ochiai Funeral Hall, and her ashes were interred next to those of her husband's.[65]The government revealed that her funeral cost ¥325 million.[66][67]The national treasury is also set to return about ¥10.16 million, after half of her allowance was paid in October.[68]"Imperial Court Expenses," which are public funds, paid for her March to November hospitalization.[68][69]

Honours

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Monof 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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  2. ^"Cao mộc thị (Takagi genealogy)".Reichsarchiv(in Japanese).Retrieved28 May2017.
  3. ^abcdef"Tối cao linh の hoàng tộc tam lạp cung phi bách hợp tử さま kích động の1 thế kỷ を sinh きる | NHK | WEB đặc tập".NHKニュース.2 June 2023.Retrieved15 November2024.
  4. ^Yamaguchi, Mari (15 November 2024)."Japanese Princess Yuriko, wartime Emperor Hirohito's sister-in-law, dies at 101".Associated Press.Retrieved18 November2024.
  5. ^"Princess Yuriko, eldest member of Japan's imperial family, dies at 101".Associated Press.15 November 2024.Retrieved18 November2024– via The Washington Post.
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  26. ^"脳 ngạnh tắc でご nhập viện の tam lạp cung phi bách hợp tử さま “Thuận điều にご hồi phục” nhất bàn bệnh thất へご di động cung nội sảnh ".Sankei Shimbun(in Japanese). 11 March 2024.Retrieved9 November2024.
  27. ^"100 tuế の bách hợp tử さま “脳 ngạnh tắc” の chứng trạng cải thiện し nhất bàn bệnh đống へ ngộ えん tính phế viêm も cải thiện ".Jiji.com(in Japanese). 11 March 2024.Retrieved9 November2024.
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  29. ^"100 tuế の tối cao linh hoàng tộc ・ bách hợp tử さまに tân たに “Tâm bất toàn” などの chứng trạng “脳 ngạnh tắc” で nhập viện trung ".Fnn.jp(in Japanese). 18 March 2024.Retrieved9 November2024.
  30. ^"Tam lạp cung phi bách hợp tử さま, tâm bất toàn と脳 ngạnh tắc の chứng trạng かなり cải thiện cung nội sảnh".News.ntv(in Japanese). 25 March 2024.Retrieved9 November2024.
  31. ^"Hoàng thất で tối cao linh tam lạp cung phi の bách hợp tử さま 101 tuế に hoàng tộc phương が bệnh viện phóng vấn".NHK.jp(in Japanese). 4 June 2024.Retrieved9 November2024.
  32. ^"Nhập viện trung の bách hợp tử さま, khinh い phế viêm との chẩn đoạn thụ けられる ご chứng trạng は hồi phục 101 tuế, hoàng thất で tối cao linh".Sankei Shimbun(in Japanese). 26 August 2024.Retrieved9 November2024.
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  36. ^"Hoàng tộc tối cao linh 101 tuế の tam lạp cung phi bách hợp tử さまの dung thể が ác hóa… Tôn の bân tử さまはイギリスから cấp きょ quy quốc へ|FNNプラ".Fnn.jp.8 November 2024.Retrieved9 November2024.
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  38. ^"Bân tử さま, イギリスから khẩn cấp quy quốc tam lạp cung phi bách hợp tử さまをお kiến vũ い cao viên cung phi cửu tử さまも".News.ntv(in Japanese).Retrieved9 November2024.
  39. ^"Tam lạp cung phi bách hợp tử さま dung thể ác hóa, trường nữ ら thân tộc が bệnh viện に cửu tử さまも: Triều nhật tân văn デジタル".Asahi Shimbun(in Japanese). 9 November 2024.Retrieved9 November2024.
  40. ^"Khoan nhân thân vương phi tín tử さま, kinh đô phóng vấn を thủ りやめ… Tam lạp cung phi bách hợp tử さまは dung thể に đại きな変 hóa なし".Yomiuri Shimbun(in Japanese). 11 November 2024.Retrieved11 November2024.
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  45. ^"Tam lạp cung phi bách hợp tử さま, tâm 臓や thận 臓の cơ năng の đê hạ 続く “Chủ trị y が chú ý thâm く kiến thủ っている” と cung nội sảnh ".Newsdig.tbs(in Japanese). 14 November 2024.Retrieved14 November2024.
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  49. ^"Instagram".www.instagram.com.Retrieved15 November2024.
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  55. ^"Bách hợp tử さま thệ khứ で thiên hoàng gia など5 nhật の phục tang 19 nhật の ái tử さま giai tử さまの áp tràng tiếp đãi thủ りやめ".Newsdig.tbs(in Japanese). 15 November 2024.Retrieved15 November2024.
  56. ^"【 tốc báo 】 thiên hoàng hoàng hậu lạng bệ hạ が bách hợp tử さまを điếu vấn bệ hạ は đại おばの thệ khứ で công vụ thủ り chỉ め|FNNプライムオンライン".Fnn.jp.15 November 2024.Retrieved15 November2024.
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  60. ^"Tam lạp cung phi bách hợp tử さま thệ khứ から nhất dạ “Ngự chu nhập” や “拝 quyết” で hoàng tộc phương が bách hợp tử さまに biệt れを cáo げる | TBS NEWS DIG (1ページ) ".TBS NEWS DIG(in Japanese). 16 November 2024.Retrieved16 November2024.
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  66. ^"Bách hợp tử さまの táng nghi phí dụng, dư bị phí から ước 3 ức 2 thiên vạn viên tân たな mộ は tác らず: Triều nhật tân văn デジタル".Triều nhật tân văn デジタル(in Japanese). 22 November 2024.Retrieved23 November2024.
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  71. ^abRed Cross Medals
  72. ^Persepolis
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