Princess Yuriko, the oldest member of Japan’s imperial family, died early Friday morning at the age of 101, the Japanese Imperial Household Agency announced, while reporting that visits to the Palace have been suspended until Tuesday.
“Her Imperial Highness Princess Yuriko passed away today at 6:32 a.m. (local time) at St. Louis International Hospital. We would like to express our deepest condolences,” reads a statement posted on its website.
Yuriko was hospitalized in March due to a stroke and pneumonia. She had been receiving treatment, but medical tests carried out earlier this month showed a deterioration of her heart and kidney functions, reported the Japanese news agency Kiodo.
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said he was “deeply saddened” by the news of the princess’s death, stressing that as a member of the Imperial Family she had contributed to a “wide range of fields”, such as medicine, culture, sport and international cooperation.
Ishiba stressed on his profile on social network X that he “participated for many years in projects on motherhood and child rearing, to which he devoted great efforts”, and also “maintained a close relationship with the people, encouraging participants in various ceremonies and tournaments”.
“Since her old age, she has spent her days quietly and in good health, and last year she turned 100. The people of Japan had hoped for the continued longevity of Her Imperial Highness, so it is truly regrettable that she passed away so unexpectedly. “We sympathize with the profound grief of the Imperial Family and their loved ones, and hereby express our deepest condolences together with the people of Japan,” he said.
Yuriko, who was born in 1923, married Prince Mikasa, younger brother of Emperor Hirohito and uncle of the current Emperor, Naruhito, at the age of 18, months before the start of World War II.
