The Mikasa-no-miya is a branch of the Japanese imperial family.
Overview The Mikasa-no-miya was established on December 2, 1935, when Emperor Shōwa granted Prince Takahito the title of Prince Mikasa, along with permission to establish a new branch of the Imperial Family on the occasion of his 20th birthday and coming of age ceremony.
Upon Prince Mikasa's death in 2016, his wife Princess Mikasa assumed leadership of the family. Following her death in November 2024, the position of head of the family was left vacant until September 2025, when it was decided that Princess Akiko would succeed to the position. On this occasion, her mother, Princess Nobuko left the Mikasa household, establishing the Princess Tomohito of Mikasa household.
Membership
Current members NameGenderDate of BirthAgeLineageNotesPrincess Akiko of MikasaFemaleDecember 20, 1981Eldest daughter of Prince Tomohito of Mikasa3rd head of the family. Prince Tomohito household reintegrated into Mikasa household in 2013.Princess Yōko of MikasaFemaleOctober 25, 1983Second daughter of Prince Tomohito
Past members NameGenderDate of BirthAgeYear of departureReasonLineageNotesTakahito, Prince MikasaMaleDecember 2, 19152016DeathFourth son of Emperor TaishōFirst head of the Mikasa household.Yuriko, Princess MikasaFemaleJune 4, 19232024DeathConsort of Prince TakahitoSecond head of the Mikasa household. Yasuko KonoeFemaleApril 26, 19441966Left Imperial Family upon marriageEldest daughter of Prince TakahitoPrince Tomohito of MikasaMaleJanuary 5, 19461980Established household within Mikasa householdEldest son of Prince TakahitoDied in 2012.Princess Tomohito of MikasaFemaleApril 8, 19552025Established Prince Tomohito of Mikasa household independent of Mikasa householdConsort of Prince TomohitoPrince Tomohito household merged back in 2013.Yoshihito, Prince KatsuraMaleFebruary 11, 19481988Established Katsura-no-miya householdSecond son of Prince TakahitoDied in 2014.Masako SenFemaleOctober 23, 19511983Left Imperial Family upon marriageSecond daughter of Prince TakahitoNorihito, Prince TakamadoMaleDecember 29, 19541984Established Takamado-no-miya householdThird son of Prince TakahitoDied in 2002.
Genealogy
Heads of Household PositionNameAppointed ByDate of Appointment EndedReasonLengthLineageDescent1stTakahito, Prince MikasaEstablished as head of household by Emperor ShowaDecember 2, 1935October 17, 2016Death80 years 331 daysImperial FamilyFourth son of Emperor Taisho.2ndYuriko, Princess MikasaImperial Household CouncilNovember 16, 2016November 15, 2024Death8 yearsNon-Imperial OriginSecond daughter of Masanori Takagi. Consort of Prince Takahito.3rdPrincess Akiko of MikasaImperial Household CouncilSeptember 30, 2025IncumbentImperial FamilyEldest daughter of Prince Tomohito.
Branch families
Prince Tomohito household Prince Tomohito, the eldest son and heir of Prince Mikasa established his own household on November 7th, 1980, upon his marriage to Nobuko Aso. Unlike other princes of the Imperial Family who found new branches of the household, Prince Tomohito was not granted permission to do so, or a new princely title, as he was expected to eventually inherit the Mikasa household and title of Prince Mikasa.
However, Prince Tomohito predeceased his father, passing away on June 6th, 2012, with no male heir. As a result, the headship of the Prince Tomohito household remained vacant. On June 10th, 2013, the Imperial Household Agency announced that the Prince Tomohito household would be considered abolished retroactively to the date of the prince’s death, and that its remaining members would be reintegrated into the Mikasa household while retaining their staff and imperial allowances. On July 31st of the same year, the former residence of the Prince Tomohito family was renamed the “Mikasa East Palace".
Members NameGenderDate of BirthYear of departureReason LineageNotesPrince Tomohito of MikasaMaleJanuary 5, 19462012DeathEldest son of Prince TakahitoNot granted princely title as heir to Mikasa household.Princess Tomohito of Mikasa (Nobuko)FemaleApril 9, 19552013Reintegrated into Mikasa householdConsort of Prince TomohitoPrincess Akiko of MikasaFemaleDecember 20, 19812013Reintegrated into Mikasa householdEldest daughter of Prince TomohitoThird head of Mikasa household.Princess Yōko of MikasaFemaleOctober 25, 19832013Reintegrated into Mikasa householdSecond daughter of Prince Tomohito
Princess Tomohito of Mikasa household Following the November 2024 death of Princess Mikasa, the Mikasa household was left without a head. However, on September 30th, 2025, it was decided that Princess Akiko of Mikasa would become head of the household.
On this occasion, Princess Nobuko departed the Mikasa household and established the Princess Tomohito of Mikasa household. NameGenderDate of BirthRelationNotesPrincess Tomohito of Mikasa (Nobuko)FemaleApril 9, 1955Consort of Prince TomohitoIn 2025, she left the Mikasa household and established the independent Princess Tomohito of Mikasa household.
Katsura-no-miya
Prince Yoshihito received the title of Prince Katsura and permission to start a new branch of the Imperial Family in 1988. This was somewhat unusual as he never married or had children. NameGenderDate of BirthYear of DepartureReasonLineageNotesYoshihito, Prince KatsuraMaleFebruary 11, 19482014DeathSecond son of Prince TakahitoHousehold abolished upon Prince Katsura's death.
Takamado-no-miya
Prince Norihito received the title of Prince Takamado and permission to start a new branch of the Imperial Family upon the occasion of his marriage in 1984. The Takamado branch remains extant, although Prince Norihito died in 2002. NameGenderDate of BirthYear of DepartureReasonLineageNotesNorihito, Prince TakamadoMaleDecember 29, 19542002DeathThird son of Prince TakahitoDied in 2002.Hisako, Princess TakamadoFemaleJuly 10, 1953Eldest daughter of Shigejiro TottoriPrincess Tsuguko of TakamadoFemaleMarch 8, 1986Eldest daughter of Prince NorihitoNoriko SengeFemaleJuly 22, 19882014Left Imperial Family upon marriageSecond daughter of Prince NorihitoLeft the Imperial Family upon marriage to Kunimaro Senge on May 27, 2014.Ayako MoriyaFemaleSeptember 15, 19902018Left Imperial Family upon marriageThird daughter of Prince NorihitoLeft the Imperial Family upon marriage to Kei Moriya on October 29, 2018.
Residences The principal residence of the Mikasa household is the Mikasa Palace, located adjacent to the Mikasa East Palace and the Takamado Palace, within the grounds of the Akasaka Estate, in Moto-Akasaka, Tokyo. Completed in 1970, the palace has a floor area of approximately 11,500 square feet across two floors, and served as the official residence of Prince Mikasa and Princess Mikasa from 1970 until their respective deaths in 2016 and 2024. It was vacant following the death of Princess Mikasa, but in September of 2025, it was announced that, in conjunction with Princess Akiko assuming the headship of the Mikasa household, she would move into the Mikasa palace. She moved in to the Mikasa Palace on May 7th, 2026.
The Mikasa East Palace is another residence of the Mikasa family, located on the south side of the Akasaka Estate, adjacent to the Mikasa and Akishino Palaces. Completed in 1982 as the official residence of the Prince Tomohito household, the two story, 7,300 square foot palace contains 15 rooms, plus offices and staff accommodations. While was originally named the Prince Tomohito Residence, it was renamed to the Mikasa East Palace following Prince Tomohito's death in 2012. Princess Akiko and Princess Yōko continued to live there (Princess Nobuko having been living separately since 2003) until May 2026, when Princess Akiko moved into the Mikasa Palace. Princess Yōko continues to reside at the Mikasa East Palace.
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