Japanese Emperor's cousin dies at 66 in Tokyo
Prince Katsura, a cousin of the Japanese Emperor Akihito, died at a hospital in Tokyo on Sunday morning at the age of 66, local media reported.
He has suffered from illness such as blood poisoning and possible infections in recent years. The University of Tokyo Hospital confirmed the prince's death after he was sent to the hospital earlier the day.
As the second son of Prince Mikasa, the emperor's uncle, Prince Katsura was the sixth in line to the imperial throne. He remained single throughout his life.
The death of an Imperial family member was the first since June 2012 when Prince Tomohito of Mikasa, Prince Katsura's elder brother, died at age 66 after battling throat and tongue cancer.
