Japanese Princess Yuriko Passes Away at 101

Princess Yuriko, a beloved member of Japan's Imperial Family, passed away at the age of 101 in Tokyo’s St.

Luke’s Hospital on Friday morning, according to the Imperial Household Agency. She had been hospitalized since March after suffering a minor stroke.

Born in 1923, Princess Yuriko was the oldest living member of the Imperial Family and held a unique place in Japanese history.

She graduated from the prestigious Gakushuin Women’s Academy in Tokyo and married Prince Mikasa, the youngest brother of Emperor Hirohito, at the age of 18.

The couple’s marriage lasted 75 years, a testament to their enduring bond, and they had five children. Tragically, three of their children predeceased her.

Prince Mikasa passed away in 2016 at the age of 100 following a heart attack.

In her later years, Princess Yuriko lived a quiet life in Akasaka Palace, Tokyo. Her passing marks the end of a long and storied life that spanned Japan’s transformation from an imperial power to a modern constitutional monarchy.

Her death is being mourned by the Imperial Family and the Japanese public, as she represented a living connection to a bygone era in the nation's history.