Princess Yuriko, oldest member of Japanese imperial family, has died

In Japan, Crown Prince Akishino and Crown Princess Kiko attended the funeral of Princess Yuriko, who died at the age of 101 on November 15, 2024. The funeral ceremony took place at Toshimaoka Cemetery in Tokyo and included Shinto priests. Family members, including their children, Kako and Hisahito, and the Emperor's niece, Princess Aiko, marked the occasion with appropriate mourning attire. The ceremony was attended by hundreds, including Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, although key members of the Imperial House, such as the Emperor and Empress, did not participate due to tradition. Princess Yuriko was a long-lived member of the royal family, having outlived her husband and three sons. Her passing highlights ongoing concerns about the aging Japanese imperial family, particularly regarding the diminishing number of male heirs, as the Imperial House Law only permits males to ascend the throne. This event has prompted debates around succession and public duties within the royal family, as the number of available members able to fulfill these roles continues to decrease.