JAPAN TIMES


 

Imperial family members are paying visits to 101-year-old Princess Yuriko, whose health condition suddenly worsened on Friday, with the functions of her heart, kidneys and other organs deteriorating.

Although Princess Yuriko, the great-aunt of Emperor Naruhito, remains asleep for most of the time in the hospital room where she is receiving treatment, she opened her eyes when spoken to on Sunday and is conscious from time to time.

Princess Yuriko’s granddaughter, Princess Akiko, returned to Japan from Britain on Saturday morning after having been informed of her condition, and headed straight to the hospital to visit her.

Princess Hisako, Princess Yuriko’s daughter-in-law, also paid her a visit on Saturday. Princess Hisako canceled her trip to Nara and Kyoto prefectures over concerns about Princess Yuriko's condition.

 

Princess Yuriko’s other granddaughter, Princess Yoko, visited her at the hospital on Sunday at the same time as Princess Hisako and Princess Akiko, NHK reported.

Born in 1923, Princess Yuriko is the oldest member of the imperial family and is the sister-in-law of the late former Emperor Hirohito, posthumously known as Emperor Showa.

In 1941, she married Prince Mikasa, the younger brother of Emperor Showa, and had three sons and two daughters. Her husband and three sons have already died.

She has been hospitalized since March at St. Luke's International Hospital in Tokyo's Chuo Ward due to cerebral infarction and aspiration pneumonia.