Her Imperial Highness Princess Tomohito of Mikasa
His Imperial Highness Prince Tomohito of Mikasa passed away in the Sasaki Institute Kyoundo Hospital on 6 June 2012. He was 66 years old.His Imperial Highness engaged in a broad range of activities, including work in the fields of welfare for persons with disabilities, sports promotion, youth education and improving international friendly relations.In particular, in addition to active work in giving guidance to the physically and intellectually disabled in living more independent lives through sports such as skiing, bowling, dancing and running, His Imperial Highness was actively involved in both educational and practical measures to enhance lives and promote the independence of the severely disabled and those with incurable illness, such as muscular dystrophy, to help build a social basis from which people with disabilities and people without disabilities can live together. To this end, His Imperial Highness often gave lectures and contributed articles to national newspapers and magazines, and had also authored seven books.
Her Imperial Highness Princess Tomohito of Mikasa was born on 9 April 1955, as the third daughter of the late Takakichi Aso. After graduating from the Sacred Heart School in Tokyo, she studied at Rosslyn House College, UK. She has two daughters, Princess Akiko and Princess Yohko.
Princess Tomohito is involved with the Japan Red Cross’s activities as Honorary Vice-President of the Japanese Red Cross Society. She also is Honorary President of Jikeikai, President of the Japan Rose Society, Honorary President of the Doyo Society of Japan and Honorary President of the Japan Building Maintenance Association and Honorary President of the Women’s Healthcare Awareness & Menopause Network Society and International Judo Federation Ambassador.
(Photo: Japan Building Maintenance Association)
Princess Tomohito contributes sports promotion through “NSCA Japan (NSCA : National Strength and Conditioning Association)”. Also, she is involved in a wide range of initiatives supporting restoration and rebuilding, welfare for the disabled, nutrition education, and positive youth development through organizations such as the “AJU Center for Independent Living (AJU : “Ai no Jikko Undo (the Movement for Action of Love))”. And at “Women’s Healthcare Awareness & Menopause Network Society”, she has been trained and certificated as a “Special Counselor for Female Health Problems” by the Society. She responds women, who need consultation, at a menopause age all around Japan on the helpline.
Entrusted by H.I.H. the Crown Prince, current H.M. the Emperor, Princess Tomohito is contributing the development of Japan’s agriculture by attending "Ninaite (bearers of agriculture) Summit", hosted by the National Chamber of Agriculture, fostering the agricultural management development and the regional agriculture promotion through discussing and exchanging ideas by enthusiastic farmers.
(Photo: Saga Prefecture)
Princess Tomohito is also passionate about cooking, and has published two books of recipes, “Shiki no katei ryori (home cooking through the seasons)”, from Kobunsha, and “Omoide no saki niwa itsumo katei ryori (memories are made of home cooked meals)”.In these books, she mentions her compassion for farm producers in Fukushima and other disaster areas of the Great East Japan Earthquake.
In December 1992 Their Imperial Highnesses visited the United States to support a newly established cancer ward in the New York Medical College and His Imperial Highness made a keynote address at a charity ball. In May 1994 Their Imperial Highnesses visited Hawaii and attended a charity dinner in Hawaii for the reconstruction of Kuakini Hospital.
In February 1994 Their Imperial Highnesses traveled to Norway to attend the opening ceremony of the 17th Winter Olympic Games in Lillehammer and view various events.
In July 1994, Her Imperial Highness visited Australia to offer her support to the Sydney Royal Research Institute for those with Visual and Listening Disabilities, where His Imperial Highness Prince Katsura had served as Executive Committee Chairman. There she attended a charity ball, which Prince Tomohito had been planning for four years, organized through the volunteer spirit of the Japanese living in Australia.
In May 1998 Their Imperial Highnesses visited Turkey at the invitation of the Government of Turkey to attend ceremonies relating to the Turkey-Japan Foundation Cultural Centre (opening ceremony and reception), where they also attended an official government welcome ceremony and a dinner hosted by the President of Turkey.
In January 2001, His Imperial Highness was involved in the establishment of the Fund-raising Committee for the Construction of a Japanese Institute of Anatolian Archaeology at the Middle Eastern Culture Center in Japan. His Imperial Highness has taken part in domestic fundraising activities and in October 2002, June 2003 and October 2003 he personally planned and led three groups of benefactors, which totaled over 200 people, to Turkey on a tour of the heritage of Turkey. In June 2003, Her Imperial Highness Princess Akiko also accompanied His Imperial Highness Prince Tomohito on the tour.
In April 2003, His Imperial Highness visited Norway accompanied by his daughter, Her Imperial Highness Princess Akiko. In Norway they attended the 40th Anniversary of Ridderrennet, World Cross Country Ski Championships for the Visually Disabled, accompanying Her Majesty Queen Sonja of Norway.
In July 2003, in her position as Honorary President of the Japan Rose Society, Her Imperial Highness attended the World Rose Convention and related events in the city of Glasgow in the United Kingdom.
(Photo: Fukuyama city)
(Photo: Fukuyama city)
In November 2017, Her Imperial Highness visited the Kingdom of the Netherlands to attend 2017 Junior Chamber International World Congress in Amsterdam.
In September 2018, Her Imperial Highness visited Italy to attend the Opening Ceremony of the 2018 Annual Meeting of the Italian Association for Japanese Studies.
In February 2020 , Her Imperial Highness visited France to attend the Opening Ceremony of the 2020 Judo Grand Slam Paris and watched matches as an International Judo Federation Ambassador.
In August 2023, the Princess visited Hungary with the International Judo Federation invitation to be present at Hungary Masters 2023 as an IJF Ambassador.
In June 2025, the Princess visited Hungary with the International Judo Federation invitation to be present at World Judo Championships as an IJF Ambassador.