Princess Yōko Of Mikasa

Princess Yōko of Mikasa (瑶子女王, Yōko Joō), born on 25 October 1983, is a member of the Imperial House of Japan. She is the second daughter of Prince Tomohito of Mikasa and Princess Tomohito of Mikasa (née Nobuko). She is a paternal second cousin of Emperor Naruhito. Her maternal family includes her uncle Tarō Asō, who served as Japan's 92nd prime minister, and her great-grandfather is Shigeru Yoshida, Japan's 45th prime minister. Additionally, she is the great-niece of author and literary critic Ken'ichi Yoshida.

Early life and education:

Princess Yōko was born at the Japanese Red Cross Medical Center in Hiroo, Shibuya, Tokyo. She completed her primary, junior high, and high school education at the Gakushūin School, a prestigious institution. She graduated from Gakushuin Women's College, Faculty of Intercultural Studies, Department of Japanese Studies, earning a bachelor's degree in Japanese studies.

Her involvement with martial arts includes practicing kendo from a young age. In 2005, she participated in exhibition tournaments in France and Germany, and also competed at the Aichi World's Fair. In July 2006, she attended the national convention Kendo Housewives.

Public duties and activities:

Princess Yōko came of age in October 2003 and participated in a press conference on her birthday, where she discussed her future plans. She received the second class of the Order of the Precious Crown and began engaging in royal duties and official engagements.

Her volunteer work includes activities with the Japanese Red Cross Society, primarily between December 2006 and November 2012. In August 2013, she was appointed Patron of the International Association for Universal Design (IAUD), a position formerly held by her father. In January 2014, she became President of the Social Welfare Organization Yuai Jyuji Kai.

Household and family:

On 6 June 2012, her father, Prince Tomohito, passed away due to multiple organ failure. His funeral was attended by Princess Yōko and other members of the Imperial Family. In June 2013, the Imperial Household Agency announced the reduction of one household within the Imperial Family, integrating Prince Tomohito’s household into that of his father. The agency specified that this change would not affect the lives of his widow and daughters.

Following the death of Princess Mikasa in September 2025, her elder sister Akiko assumed leadership of the Mikasa branch of the imperial family, becoming the first princess of the blood royal to head a household in decades. Princess Yōko remains in her original household while her sister’s household was established separately for their mother.

Health:

In March 2017, Princess Yōko experienced cerebral anemia after feeling dizzy while walking in Tokyo, resulting in a fall. She received treatment at the Imperial Household Agency Hospital and took a month off official duties to recover.

In February 2022, she was hospitalized at the University of Tokyo Hospital due to moderate pneumonia after testing positive for COVID-19, marking the first COVID-19 case within the Imperial family. She was discharged on 16 February after recovering and continued her convalescence at her Akasaka estate. During this period, she disclosed that she has sensorineural hearing loss caused by Ménière's syndrome, which sometimes makes conversations difficult.

Motorsports:

In 2024, the Super Formula Championship's July round at Fuji Speedway was named the Princess Yoko Cup in her honor. She has served as president of the Tokyo Motor Show and Japan Mobility Show, and has expressed her interest in motorsports, regularly following racing news and participating in related events.

Honours:

Princess Yōko holds the Member 2nd Class (Peony) of the Order of the Precious Crown.

Official roles:

She is President of the Princess Yoko Foundation, Honorary President of the Japan Universal Sound Design Association, President of the Tokyo Motor Show and Japan Mobility Show, President of the Social Welfare Organization "Yuaijujikai," Honorary Advisor of the Inclusive Design Network, and Patron of the International Association for Universal Design (IAUD).