Photo/Illutration Princess Akiko gives an interview in Tokyo in June 2024; next to her is a photo of her late father, Prince Tomohito. (Koichi Ueda)

Princess Akiko has been appointed the new head of the Mikasa family, marking the first time in nearly eight decades that a princess born into the imperial family has assumed leadership of a princely house.

According to the Imperial Household Agency, the decision was reached through internal discussions within the family following the passing of Princess Yuriko, widow of Prince Mikasa, in November last year.

Akiko, 43, is a great-granddaughter of Emperor Taisho and second cousins with Emperor Naruhito.

Princess Nobuko, 70, Akiko's mother and the late Prince Tomohito's widow, will leave the Mikasa family to establish a new branch of her own. This move expands the number of imperial branches from four to five.

A special council chaired by Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba met on Sept. 30 to approve independent household budgets for both Akiko and Nobuko.

Akiko’s annual allowance was increased from 6.4 million yen ($43,000) to 10.6 million yen, while Nobuko’s rose from 15.2 million yen to 30.5 million yen.

Since the enactment of the Imperial House Economy Law in 1947, no female royal born into the imperial family has ever assumed leadership of a princely house.

However, Akiko’s allowance remains half that of male royals in similar positions, reflecting the law’s assumption that female members—who are not eligible for the throne—will have fewer public duties.

Nobuko’s creation of a new house is also unusual.

While widowed consorts have previously inherited existing houses, this marks the first time a new princely house has been established by a royal consort since 1889.

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