Japanese Imperial Family Confirms First Case Of COVID-19, Princess Yoko Hospitalized

Illustration of the Imperial Palace of Japan. (Wikimedia Commons/Bryan Ledgard)

JAKARTA - The Japanese Imperial Family confirmed its first case of coronavirus infection on Tuesday, with a 38-year-old daughter hospitalized.

Princess Yoko, the youngest daughter of the late Prince Tomohito of Mikasa, a cousin of former Emperor Akihito, complained of a sore throat on Monday and tested positive for the virus on Tuesday, the Imperial Household Agency said. He was hospitalized within the Imperial Palace.

Following the positive status of her sister, Princess Akiko, her sister, will also undergo a COVID-19 test. The two were found to have met a few days ago, the agency said.

Princess Yoko has not attended any gatherings involving food and drink recently, with the route of infection still unknown, the agency added.

However, Princess Yoko was one of the participants in a ceremony to commemorate the late emperor at the palace on January 30 last.

Additionally, there are no confirmed infections among its staff, and none of them have reported feeling sick, according to the agency.

To note, Princess Yoko serves as head of Tokyo-based social welfare company Yuai Jujikai, as well as honorary president of the Universal Sound Design Association of Japan, a non-profit organization that helps people with hearing loss.