News Princess Yuriko, sister-in-law of Showa emperor, passes away at 101

[thomas]

Yuriko, Princess Mikasa ( 崇仁親王妃百合子), the oldest member of the Japanese imperial family, passed away on Friday at the age of 101. Her health had been declining since the previous week. She had been hospitalized at St. Luke's International Hospital since early March after suffering a stroke and pneumonia. Recently, her heart, kidneys, and other organs have shown significant deterioration. Born into a prestigious family in 1923, she married Prince Mikasa at 18. Prince Mikasa was the younger brother of Emperor Showa, making Princess Yuriko the great-aunt of the current Emperor Naruhito.

Princess Yuriko in May 2023 (photo credit: Imperial Household Agency)​

Born in 1923 to an elite family, she joined the imperial family at age 18 when she married Prince Mikasa, the younger brother of former Emperor Hirohito — posthumously known as Emperor Showa — and is the great-aunt of current Emperor Naruhito. "Since her marriage, (Princess Yuriko) had supported Prince Mikasa, and, as a member of the imperial family, had contributed to a wide range of fields such as medical care, welfare, culture, sports and international friendships," Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said in a statement read out by Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi. "In particular, she had been involved in the maternal and child care program for many years and had devoted herself to it." The princess had three sons and two daughters, but was predeceased by her husband and sons.

Princess Yuriko, sister-in-law of Emperor Showa, dies at 101

The oldest living member of the imperial family, Princess Yuriko died due to natural causes.

www.japantimes.co.jp

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Princess Mikasa passes away at 101

Japan

newsonjapan.com

Japan's Princess Yuriko, great-aunt of emperor, dies at 101

Princess Yuriko, the oldest member of the Japanese imperial family and great-aunt of Emperor Naruhito, died of natural causes at a Tokyo hospital early Friday morning, the Imperial Household Agency said. She was 101.

english.kyodonews.net

 

[thomas]

The Japanese government has allocated ¥325 million for the funeral of Princess Yuriko, who passed away on November 15th at the age of 101. This includes ¥202 million for the main funeral ceremony, "Renso-no-gi" (斂葬の儀), to be held at the Toshimagaoka cemetery on November 19th. The remaining funds will cover additional funeral expenses. Princess Yuriko, the great-aunt of Emperor Naruhito, will be interred alongside her late husband, Prince Mikasa, who died in 2016. No new tomb will be constructed.

But the total costs are up by about ¥59 million compared with those for the prince's funeral due to inflation and higher labour costs. It is customary to use government funds for the funerals of imperial family members, as their deaths are subject to national mourning, and the ceremonies are therefore of a public nature, according to the agency.

Japan will spend ¥325 million in government funds on Princess Yuriko's funeral

The total includes about ¥202 million for the 'Renso-no-gi' main funeral ceremony to be held at the Toshimagaoka cemetery on Tuesday.

www.japantimes.co.jp

 

[Petaris]

That seems like it is a bit high. It's hard to imagine the funeral expenses being that high.

 

[thomas]

Royalty is expensive. Although we had quite a discussion here when former PM Abe got his state funeral.

 

[Grandpa Frank]

I would think security and crowd control would be a big expense.

 

[thomas]

I would think security and crowd control would be a big expense.

I'm not sure it's a public funeral. I reckon most "commoners" had no idea who she was.

For those interested in royalty and Yuriko in particular, "The Court Jeweller" has an interesting piece on Princess Mikasa's tiaras:

Yuriko Tagaki leaves her family home en route to marry Prince Mikasa, the Emperor's youngest brother, in Tokyo on 22 October 1941​

Bonus Reading: The Incredible Tiaras and Jewels of Japan's Imperial Family

My article today at Hidden Gems is devoted to the life, loves, and tiaras of Japan's Princess Mikasa, who died this month at the remarkable age of 101. To continue the theme, I've got a

www.thecourtjeweller.com

 

[Hiroyuki Nagashima]

Document about a funeral service and the state funeral of the royalty after the Meiji era .

【分析】国葬対象になった「皇族」…全員にあてはまる2つの共通点 | お知らせ・コラム

www.miyabi-sougi.com

" 斂葬の儀(Rensounogi)" equal to the formal funeral of Prince Mikasa princess Yuriko who died at 101 years old was performed in Toshima Oka graveyard of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku.


"斂葬(Rensou)" means that I hush up the deceased to graves. It is a ceremony equivalent to a general formal funeral at the funeral service of the Japanese royalty. I am comprised of "the matter of the funeral hall" equal to the funeral service and "the matter of the cemetery" equal to cinerarium, the burial. They are performed in conformity with Shinto courtesy as a ceremony of the Imperial Family, and the government allots public funds saying that they become a target of the national grief.

Breakdown of the general funeral service expense of Japan.
The mean funeral service expense exchange rate of 2024 is 1.185 million yen
A base rate: A complete set to hold the funeral service including use of funeral hall charges, cremation charges, altar, coffin, portrait of the deceased, conveyance costs.
Eating and drinking costs: Eating and drinking such as wake behavior, the end of maigre days.
Return favor product costs: The article of the thanks for the funeral offering.
The total sum of the funeral service expense: Total amount of money (donating property does not include it) of base rate, eating and drinking costs, return favor product costs

葬儀費用の平均相場はいくら？料金の内訳や葬式代を安くするコツを紹介

葬儀費用の平均相場は約118.5万円（鎌倉新書2024年調べ）。内訳は大きくわけて葬儀一式費用・飲食接待費用・寺院費用の3つで、オプションや状況にあわせた対応によって追加料金もかかります。葬儀費用をおさえたいなら複数の葬儀社を見積もり比較するのがオススメです。

www.e-sogi.com

As the mean funeral service expense of 2013 is 2.029 million yen, it becomes cheaper year by year.

お葬式に関する全国調査からみる葬儀費用の推移・変化（2013年～2024年）

鎌倉新書では2013年から隔年で、全国でお葬式の喪主（または喪主に近い立場）を経験した40歳以上の男女を対象に「お葬式に関する全国調査」を行っています。2024年には「第6回お葬式に関する全国調査」を実施し、5月に情報を公開しました。 この

www.e-sogi.com

It is increase of 家族葬(Kazokusou) which people who were close to a relative and the deceased play a key role, and it sends that it is thought as a factor of the change of the funeral service expense.