Japan's oldest prince has died.

The Imperial Household Agency of Japan announced today that Prince Mikasa, uncle of Emperor Akihito, has passed away at the age of 100.

Prince Misaki passed away from heart disease at St. Luke's International Hospital in Tokyo at 8:34 a.m. local time today (October 27). He was the oldest member of the Japanese Imperial Family.

In 2012, Prince Misaky underwent heart surgery. In May, he was hospitalized with acute pneumonia. After a period of treatment, the prince's health gradually recovered, but he remained in the hospital due to an unstable heart rate.

At a press conference today, Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga conveyed Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's deepest condolences to the Imperial Family and the Japanese people on the passing of Prince Mikasa. The Cabinet will consider the dates and location for the funeral as soon as possible.

The passing of Prince Mikasa is a major loss for the Japanese Imperial Family. Analysts are questioning whether women will be considered for the throne when the line is narrowed to just four, a move that would break a 2,600-year-old imperial tradition.

Japanese Prince Mikasa passed away on October 27th at the age of 100. Photo: Reuters

Mikasa is the youngest brother of Emperor Hirohito, the father of Emperor Akihito. He is a scholar of ancient Eastern history, has taught at several universities, and is the honorary chairman of the Middle Eastern Cultural Center in Japan and the Japan-Türkiye Association.

In August, Emperor Akihito, now 82 years old, hinted that he wanted to abdicate. This is unprecedented in Japan and inconsistent with current law.

Currently, the four people on the list of successors are Crown Prince Naruhito (56 years old), Prince Akihito (80 years old), and Prince Hisahito (10 years old, the Emperor's only grandson).

According to Zing.vn