The Mikasa Family Thread

[Prisma]

Princess Yoko at the Applied Human Factors and Ergonomics International Conference and News on July 30th in Orlando, Florida.

Photos at AHFE Conference's Facebook post

She is president of the International Association for Universal Design.

Source: page 4 of Sankei's Imperial Weekly 8/5

[Prisma]

From August 2-4th, Princess Akiko visited Tendo, Yamagata Prefecture to attend the 37th National Junior High school selection Shogi championship. 95 students (52 boys, 43 girls) participated and the princess is honorary president.

Source: Mainichi

[Prisma]

On March 6th, there was an explosion when Princess Akiko attended the ski tournament in Shirahatasan stadium, Sapporo, Kiyota-ku. At the time, the princess had finished the greeting and was proceeding to the VIP room when an explosion occurred about 10 meters away. No one was injured, a suspect was quickly apprehended, and the incident did not affect the Princess' schedule.

On July 27th, prosecutors sent papers (charged?) a 29 year old, unemployed man from Higashi-ku, Sapporo on suspicion of explosives control law violations. They suspect he used a gunpowder stuffed in a pipe as an explosive device. According to the police, the suspect admitted the charges with a statement to the effect of "I wanted to stand out."

Sources: Yomiuri, nishinippon.co.jp

[Prisma]

It looks like Prince Mikasa, who has been hospitalized since May 16th, may be returning home. Imperial family members, especially his wife Princess Yuriko have been visiting daily. Google translates one part of the tweet as "hospital life will not extend to long-term" so I'm assuming good news.

Asahi reporter's tweet: https://twitter.com/shimaykkkt/statu...93481585254400

[Prisma]

Princess Akiko will award the "Imperial Highness Prince Mikasa Award" at the international ballroom dance competition, "16th Galaxy Masters Championships", on September 18th at the Nippon Budokan. The competition features 5 ballroom events (waltz, tango, Viennese waltz, slow fox trot, quick step) and 5 Latin (cha-cha, samba, rumba, PASODOBLE, jive).
Source: Mainichi

Old news:
On July 10th, Princess Akiko attended the award ceremony for the "3rd Kanjin Prince Memorial World Grand Prix International Cycling Games 2016 Japan-track Cup" in Izu, Shizuoka Prefecture.
Photo: izu-np.co.jp

On February 7th, Princess Akiko attended the "The 2nd Prince Tomohito of Mikasa Memorial World Grand Prix International Cycling Games", "All Japan Student Truck Series." 60 people participated in the All-Japan Student Truck Series.
Photo: www.at-s.com

[Prisma]

On September 1st, Princess Yoko attended the attended the annual Yukashiku "Lantern City" Faith Festival at Kashima Shrine in Ibaraki Prefecture.
Source: ibarakinews.jp

On September 3rd, Princess Yoko attended the IAUD 48-hour design marathon at Shibaura Institute of Technology. The design goal aimed at easy-to-use products for people with disabilities. 50 designers participed from 25 companies and divided into 6 teams. The Best Design Award went to Nissan designers' projection mapping where information signs were projected onto ceilings. Due to low point of view, people in wheelchairs have difficulty reading signs that are blocked by surrounding pedestrians.
Source: Asahi

She also the Prince Tomohito of Mikasa Cup 16th Kendo 8th Dan international tournament.
Asahi Imperial schedule

Princess Akiko's monthly rice cultivation article was published on the 3rd and focuses on weeding this time.
Asahi

[Prisma]

Princess Akiko threw the ceremonial first pitch at a game "to commemorate the 85th anniversary of the establishment of Tohto University Baseball League Association" in Tokyo on September 21st.

https://imperialfamilyjapan.wordpres...opening-pitch/

Photos: www.hochi.co.jp
https://twitter.com/SportsHochi/stat...38305625260032
https://twitter.com/SANKEI_SPORTS/st...15763095908352
https://twitter.com/Mickey_Joye/stat...35084752531458

ETA: made description better and added Imperial Family of Japan post.

[Prisma]

Princess Akiko visited Iwate Prefecture October 3-5 to assess the reconstruction progress and for the 71st National Sports Festival. She visited disaster public housing in Otsuchi, UNESCO Heritage "Tetsu Hashino mine" in Kamaishi, and the Kenji Miyazawa Memorial (late Taisho/early Showa era poet and children's literature author) in Hanamaki. Princess Akiko watched rugby, weightlifting, and interacted "with residents and Kakuken players."

Photo/info: iwanichi.co.jp

Other Imperial members will be make similar visits to Iwate Prefecture this week:

• Princesses Hanako, Nobuko, and Hisako October 5-7
• Princess Mako October 7-9
• Princess Yoko October 8-10
• Prince Akishino and Princess Kiko October 9-11

Asahi Imperial schedule

Last week, Princess Nobuko attended the "the 18th Kanjin parent Queen Cup women's cosmos gate ball tournament" on September 30th. She participated in the ceremonial first pitch and watched the energetic game.

Source: Sankei

[Prisma]

Princess Nobuko visited the Peace Memorial Park in Hiroshima on October 8th and laid a flowers at the cenotaph for atomic bomb victims. She will attend the National Convention of the Japan Junior Chamber of Commerce, held at the former Hiroshima Municipal Stadium site.

Video/info: NHK

[Prisma]

Princess Akiko’s monthly article focuses on the rice bowl this time, see Asahi.

Princess Akiko visited to Okayama Prefecture October 8-9th to attend the 29th Okayama Kibi wheelchair road race.
Source: Sanyonews

Unfortunately, no photos or articles yet about Princesses Nobuko or Yoko’s visits to Iwate Prefecture.

ETA: Well, Princess Yoko is briefly mentioned as visiting Iwate in this www.iwate-np.co.jp article focused on Princess Mako.

[Prisma]

Princess Yoko visited Toyama and Ishikawa Prefectures October 12-13th. She attended the disability welfare charity "Prince Tomohito of Mikasa Memorial Cup 18th Hokuriku Welfare golf tournament", at the Golf Club Goldwin of Oyabe, Toyama.

Source: 47news.jp and Asahi's Imperial schedule

On October 12th, Princess Akiko attended the "14th National Self-Defense Forces" awards ceremony in Shinjuku, Tokyo.

Source: fnn-news video and Twitter https://twitter.com/FastNewsJP_/stat...56043009798144

[Prisma]

On October 18th, Princess Nobuko attended the memorial service and "worship in the charnel house" at Chidorigafuchi National Cemetery.

Source: page 4 of Sankei Imperial Weekly #457

Prince and Princess Mikasa celebrate their 75th wedding anniversary on October 22nd. The Prince remains in the hospital.

Asahi reporter's tweet: https://twitter.com/shimaykkkt/statu...75366470217728

[Biri]

Are they the longest Royal Marriage in history?
Congratulations to them!

[Prisma]

I think so. There was a thread on long marriages, will look for it.

Asahi reports the Mikasa couple celebrated their anniversary in the Prince’s hospital room with some family members. His condition is described as “calm.”

On October 21st, Princess Nobuko began her 3-day visit to Kagawa Prefecture for the Setouchi International Art Festival 2016.
Photo/video: NHK, Asahi

Upon arrival, the Princess toured the “Beyond the Borders - the Ocean” wooden structure at Takamatsu port. Later, she traveled to Shodoshima to see the Korean artwork “Gift of The Sun” near Tonosho Port, and Taiwanese piece “Beyond the Borders - Tide” where 196 sand figures symbolize children lost at sea. 196 is the number of countries Japan recognizes.
Photos: Yomiuri, https://twitter.com/kagawaolives/sta...39983858450432

On October 22nd, Princess Nobuko met with patients at Oshima Seishoen Sanatorium (leprosy hospital)
Photo at shikoku-np.co.jp

Video of Day 1:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8XgJdPWdbI

More about the artwork:
Takamatsu | Setouchi Triennale 2016 Beyond the Borders - the Ocean

Shodoshima | Setouchi Triennale 2016 Gift of The Sun

Shodoshima | Setouchi Triennale 2016 Beyond the Borders - Tide

[Prisma]

Princess Nobuko visited two more pieces from "Setouchi International Art Festival 2016" on October 23rd. She arrived before 9am to see "20th Century Recall" and then "feel feel BONSAI". After speaking with local residents, Princess Nobuko flew back to Tokyo before noon.

Source: shikoku-np.co.jp

Megijima | Setouchi Triennale 2016 20th Century Recall
Megijima | Setouchi Triennale 2016 feel feel BONSAI

[Prisma]

Prince Mikasa has died. Condolences to the Imperial family and his friends. He has been at St. Luke's International Hospital since May.

Prince Mikasa, uncle of Emperor Akihito, died on Thursday, government sources said. He was 100.

...

He died at 8:34 a.m. on Thursday in a Tokyo hospital after his condition deteriorated, the sources said.

...

The prince was the oldest member of the Imperial family, living through the reign of three different Emperors, in the Taisho, Showa and Heisei eras. He was the only living royal family member to have served in the military during the Sino-Japanese war from 1937 and the Pacific Theater of World War II.

Prince Mikasa was born on Dec. 2, 1915, the fourth son of Emperor Taisho. His eldest brother was Emperor Hirohito, posthumously called Emperor Showa.

The prince served as an officer in the Imperial Japanese Army after graduating from the army’s college. He was posted to Nanjing, China, under a pseudonym for one year from 1943. In a book published after the end of the war, he expressed a sense of guilt over his failure to fully grasp the criminality of war.

With his wife, Princess Yuriko, Prince Mikasa had three sons and two daughters. Prince Takamado, Tomohito and Katsura all preceded him in death, in 2002, 2012 and 2014, respectively.

The prince was known as a scholar of ancient Oriental history and served as honorary president of the Middle Eastern Culture Center in Japan and the Japan-Turkey Society.

Prince Mikasa, a China war veteran who spanned three reigns, dies at 100 | The Japan Times

Sankei photo gallery

ETA: Prince Mikasa's body was taken to Akasaka Estate around 11am. [Asahi]

IHA disclosed the Prince's condition began deteriorating around 7:40am and his wife, Princess Yuriko was by his side when he passed. [Sankei]

Yesterday, he received visits from his wife Yuriko, daughter-in-law Hisako, granddaughters Tsuguko and Akayo, and a grandson. [NHK]

Princess Nobuko has arrived at Akasaka Estate. [Jiji photo]

The autumn garden party on November 1st has been canceled.

• The Imperial couple, Crown Prince, Akishino, and Hitachi families will be in official mourning for 7 days.
• Princess Yuriko - 90 days
• Princesses Nobuko, Akiko, Yoko, Hisako, Tsuguko, and Ayako - 30 days

[Sankei 2]

English articles:
Prince Mikasa, uncle of Emperor Akihito, dies at 100 years old : The Asahi Shimbun
Prince Mikasa, brother of Emperor Hirohito and a voice for peace, dies at 100 | The Japan Times

[SLV]

My condolences.

[Duc_et_Pair]

Originally Posted by Prisma

[...]

• The Imperial couple, Crown Prince, Akishino, and Hitachi families will be in official mourning for 7 days.
• Princess Yuriko - 90 days
• Princesses Nobuko, Akiko, Yoko, Hisako, Tsuguko, and Ayako - 30 days

Interesting, the different mourning periods for the imperial family (7 days), the dowager (90 days) and the grandchildren (30 days).

[An Ard Ri]

May he rest in peace.

[carlota]

100 years - a long life he lived.

Originally Posted by Duc_et_Pair

Interesting, the different mourning periods for the imperial family (7 days), the dowager (90 days) and the grandchildren (30 days).

yes, indeed. i thought the same.

do we have any details on the funeral arrangements?