Father Masanari Takagi Parents Masanari Takagi Name Yuriko, Mikasa | Religion Shinto Mother Kuniko Takagi | |
 | ||
Issue Princess Yasuko of MikasaPrince Tomohito of MikasaYoshihito, Prince KatsuraPrincess Masako of MikasaNorihito, Prince Takamado Children Yoshihito, Prince Katsura, Prince Tomohito of Mikasa, Norihito, Prince Takamado, Yasuko Konoe, Masako Sen Grandchildren Princess Yoko of Mikasa Similar People Takahito - Prince Mikasa, Yoshihito - Prince Katsura, Prince Tomohito of Mikasa, Princess Akiko of Mikasa, Princess Yoko of Mikasa | ||
Yuriko, Princess Mikasa (崇仁親王妃百合子, Takahito Shinnōhi Yuriko), born Yuriko Takagi (高木百合子, Takagi Yuriko) on 4 June 1923, is a member of the Imperial House of Japan as the widow of Takahito, Prince Mikasa, the fourth son of Emperor Taishō and Empress Teimei. The Princess is the last surviving paternal aunt of the present emperor, Akihito, and currently is the oldest member of the Imperial Family, and the only living member who was born in the Taishō period during the reign of her father-in-law.
Contents
- Biography
- Marriage
- Children
- Public service
- Titles and styles
- National honours
- Foreign honours
- Honorary positions
- References
Biography
Princess Mikasa was born on 4 June 1923 in Tokyo as Yuriko Takagi. She is the second daughter of Viscount Masanari Takagi (1894–1948) and the Hon. Kuniko Irie (1901–1988). Her father was a member of the Takagi clan, formerly lords of the small feudal domain of Tan'an; through her father, she is a great-great-granddaughter of Hotta Masayoshi, a prominent rōjū, or shōgunal minister, during the Bakumatsu period. Her mother was descended from the noble Yanagihara clan, and was a second cousin of the Shōwa Emperor. Yuriko graduated from Gakushuin Women's Academy in 1941.
Marriage
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. Prince and Princess Mikasa were married for 75 years, until Prince Mikasa's death in October 2016. 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. Prince Mikasa died on 27 October 2016, with Princess Yuriko at his side. The Princess hosted her husband's funeral ceremony as the chief mourner.
The Prince and Princess had five children, of whom two are still living. In addition to their five children, they had nine grandchildren and four great-grandchildren as of 2015. The couple's two daughters left the Imperial Family upon marriage. All of their sons predeceased them.
Children
Public service
Princess Mikasa is honorary president of various charitable organisations, especially those concerned with the preservation of traditional Japanese culture. She also plays an active role in the Japanese Red Cross Society.
In 1948, the Princess became President of the Imperial Gift Foundation Boshi-Aiiku-kai, a position that she resigned from in September 2010. She has participated on several formal occasions in Tokyo and other parts of Japan and she associates with charities that are concerned with mother and child health.
Titles and styles
Born as a daughter of Viscount Masanari Takagi, she was styled as The Honourable Yuriko Takagi. After her marriage, she is styled as Her Imperial Highness The Princess Mikasa.