Society

Japan's Imperial Family members bid farewell to late Princess Mikasa

Nov 17 (NHK) - A series of farewell rites and events has begun for Japan's Princess Mikasa, who passed away on Friday. She was the widow of Prince Mikasa, a younger brother of the late Emperor Showa.

The Princess, whose given name was Yuriko, died of natural causes at a hospital in Tokyo at the age of 101. She was the longest living member of the Imperial Family since the Meiji era that began in the late 19th century.

Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako arrived at the residence of Prince and Princess Mikasa at the Akasaka Estate in the Japanese capital on Saturday afternoon.

Emperor Emeritus Akihito and Empress Emerita Michiko also visited the residence by car. The Empress Emerita, who had surgery on her broken right leg last month, walked with a cane from the vehicle to the residence, while being supported by the Emperor Emeritus.

Later in the day, Imperial Family members including Crown Prince and Crown Princess Akishino took part in a rite to place Princess Mikasa into a coffin and bid farewell to her. Princess Akiko, one of her granddaughters, stood near the coffin alongside Princess Takamado, the widow of Prince and Princess Mikasa's third son.

A funeral and entombment ceremony called Renso-no-Gi will be held for Princess Mikasa at the Toshimagaoka cemetery in Tokyo on November 26. Members of the general public will be able to pay their respects at the site.

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