Princess Yōko of Mikasa

Princess Yōko of Mikasa (瑶子女王, Yōko Joō, born 25 October 1983) is a member of the Imperial House of Japan and the second daughter of Prince Tomohito of Mikasa and Princess Tomohito of Mikasa (Nobuko).

Education

Princess Yōko attended the prestigious Gakushūin School for her primary, junior high, and high school education. The Princess is a graduate of the Gakushuin Women's College, the Faculty of Intercultural Studies, the Department of Japanese Studies with a bachelor's degree in Japanese Studies.

Career

Princess Yōko had subsequently been active in various volunteer activities, especially with the Japanese Red Cross Society, since December 2006 to November 2012. She was inaugurated as the Patron of the International association for Universal Design (IAUD) from August 2013, a position previously held by her father. On 21 November 2013, the Princess went to Yokohama in order to attend the commemoration ceremony for the 10th anniversary of IAUD's foundation. She was inaugurated as the Patron of the International association for Universal Design from August 2013 and also she was inaugurated as the President of the Social Welfare Organization Yuai Jyuji kai from January 2014.

Public appearances

In October 2003, Yōko became an adult member of the Imperial Family and started attending official ceremonies and events in Japan with the other members of the Imperial Family, including garden parties and New Year's ceremonies.

A practitioner of the traditional Japanese martial art of kendo from an early age, the Princess was selected to participate in exhibition tournaments in France and Germany in 2005, as well as the Aichi World’s fair held the same year. In July 2006, Princess Yōko attended the national convention Kendo Housewives.

Prince Tomohito's death

On 6 June 2012, Prince Tomohito died from multiple organ failure. His funeral was held at the Toshimagaoka Imperial Cemetery. The ceremony, called "Renso no Gi", was attended by Princess Yōko and other members of the Imperial Family. In June 2013 in a statement about the Prince's household, it was announced by the Imperial Household Agency that "it [had] reduced the number of households in the Imperial family by one", integrating it into the household led by his father. According to the agency's officials the household integration won't have any effect on lives of the widow and daughters of Prince Tomohito.

Yōko is styled as Her Imperial Highness Princess Yōko of Mikasa.

National honours

• Member of the Order of the Precious Crown, 2nd Class -