In brief
Princess Yuriko, the oldest member of Japan's imperial family, has died at 101, reducing the family to 16 members and raising concerns about the future of succession laws that favor male heirs.
Princess Yuriko of Japan, who was the oldest member of the imperial family, has passed away at the age of 101. Her death was confirmed by the Imperial Household Agency, mentioning she had been hospitalized for pneumonia. Born into an aristocratic family on June 4, 1923, Yuriko married Prince Mikasa, the younger brother of Emperor Hirohito, in 1941.Throughout her life, she faced the adversity of wartime Japan, raising five children while supporting her husband’s academic pursuits. After her husband's death in 2016, she continued to engage in various philanthropic efforts. With her passing, the imperial family now faces a pressing issue concerning succession, as only four men remain in a lineage that allows only male members to ascend the throne, according to the 1947 Imperial House Law. The youngest male heir, Prince Hisahito, is now deemed the last possible successor, presenting difficulties in maintaining the royal line without female leadership.
