Princess Yuriko of Mikasa passed away due to old age at the age of 101, the oldest member of the Imperial Family. Princess Mikasa, who passed away eight years ago at the age of 100, was with her for 75 years. As the great-aunt of His Majesty the Emperor and the aunt of the former Emperor, she had been watching over the Imperial Family for many years. The former Emperor and Empress, as well as other members of the Imperial Family, came to pay their respects at the Akasaka Imperial Estate where her body was laid to rest. Princess Mikasa is the youngest brother of Emperor Showa. The life of his wife, Princess Yuriko, overlaps with the turbulent modern history of Japan, which was marked by periods before, during, and after the war. Princess Yuriko was born in 1923 (Taisho 12) to a member of the former aristocracy. She married Prince Mikasa in October 1941 at the age of 18. The wedding dinner was held the day before the attack on Pearl Harbor. Although Emperor Showa expressed his intention to cancel the event, the event was held as scheduled so as not to raise any suspicion of aberration. The war was a time when Japan was pushing ahead with war, and many civilians became victims. Princess Yuriko was also a party that faced the flames of war. Towards the end of the war, the Mikasa residence was burned down in an air raid by B29s. The couple, along with their eldest daughter, who was only one year old at the time, had to live in an air raid shelter. During the war, Prince Mikasa was assigned to Nanjing, China as an army staff officer, and was aware of the atrocities committed by the Japanese army. When accepting the Potsdam Declaration, he apparently had a heated argument with a young officer who called for the war to continue. A biography of Prince Mikasa was published two years ago. Princess Yuriko remembers the situation as "so tense that it felt like pistols were going to fly at any moment." On the occasion of their 70th wedding anniversary, Prince Mikasa looked back on that time as follows: Prince Mikasa: "Because the Mikasa family was newly established, not only did they have no economic foundation, but their mansion was completely burned down in an air raid, so their economic hardships were far greater than those of other Imperial families. It was my wife who supported them." Masamasa Funahashi interviewed Princess Yuriko 11 times in compiling the biography. Masamasa Funahashi, researcher at the Institute of Political and Economic Research, said, "She spoke as if she was listening to a tape recorder, and it made me wonder if she was really writing. She said that she wanted to leave behind not only Prince Mikasa's life, but also the historical background of the time that was visible, as well as the history and culture of the Imperial family, as a document and history. She believed that it would eventually spread to many people. That was what Princess Yuriko wanted to compile and write the biography." After the war, Princess Yuriko supported Prince Mikasa and also devoted herself to a campaign to protect the health of children and mothers. She served as the president of the Mother and Child Care Association for over 60 years. On the other hand, as a mother, she has experienced the sorrow of losing children one after another. She was seen attending the "graveside service" held on the anniversary of her death in a wheelchair. Her third son, Prince Takamado, collapsed while practicing squash and died suddenly at the young age of 47. Her eldest son, Prince Tomohito, known as the "bearded prince," died at the age of 66 after battling cancer. Her second son, Prince Katsura, who collapsed from an acute subdural hematoma and continued his official duties in a wheelchair for many years, also passed away 10 years ago. Prince and Princess Mikasa have lost all three of their sons. Even in the midst of their grief, Princess Yuriko remained strong-willed. It is her granddaughter, Princess Akiko, who has been in charge of the Imperial Family's events in place of the elderly Princess Yuriko. Princess Akiko visited the UK earlier this month, but returned to Japan ahead of schedule when news of Princess Yuriko's worsening condition was reported. Princess Akiko served as the committee chair for the publication of Prince Mikasa's biography, and was also the one who interviewed Princess Yuriko. Masamasa Funahashi, researcher at the Institute of Political and Economic Research, said, "During the interview, Her Imperial Highness the Crown Princess said, 'I may end up talking too much,' and 'Akiko listens to me, so I can't help but talk.' I remember her saying, 'I really want Akiko to know a lot of things.' Seeing as she would forget that we were there and talk about all sorts of things, I think that without the bond and trust between them, their relationship would not work." Princess Yuriko had been hospitalized since March due to a cerebral infarction and aspiration pneumonia. The Imperial Household Agency's Chief Medical Officer said, "This week, the time he was able to open his eyes and nod when spoken to had decreased. We also thought that his heart and kidney functions were gradually declining. The hospital has done all they can to help him, but due to his advanced age, his blood pressure began to fall early this morning, and he passed away at 6:32." When Prince Mikasa turned 99, Princess Yuriko wrote the following poem at the New Year's poetry gathering: "I never thought I would spend such peaceful days together with the 99-year-old prince." The funeral, or "Reso no Gi," will be held on the 26th of this month at Toshimagaoka Cemetery in Bunkyo Ward, Tokyo. The chief mourner is his granddaughter, Princess Akiko. [TV Asahi News] https://news.tv-asahi.co.jp