Japan`s prince Katsura dies at 66

Tokyo: Prince Katsura, a cousin of Japanese Emperor Akihito, died Sunday of acute heart failure after years of struggling with ill health, the palace said. He was 66. He was pronounced dead at 10:55 am (0155 GMT) at a Tokyo hospital. The prince has fought against a string of illnesses, including blood poisoning, infections and acute subdural hematoma, a collection of blood on the surface of the brain. He was the sixth in line to the Japanese imperial throne. Akihito`s two sons and his grandson are the first, second, third in line to succeed the Chrysanthemum throne.