Tokyo, Nov 22: Japan began mourning today the death of Prince Takamado, a cousin of Emperor Akihito and outspoken advocate for less secrecy surrounding the royal family.
Takamado died on Thursday evening at a Tokyo hospital. He was 47.

Takamadono Miya, seventh in line to the Chrysanthemum Throne, was hospitalised after collapsing during a squash lesson at the Canadian Embassy in Tokyo on Thursday afternoon.
He died of heart failure hours later, the Imperial Household Agency's Chief of Palace Affairs Hideaki Higuchi said at a nationally televised news conference.

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi visited the Imperial Palace early on Friday to sign a book expressing his condolences. Bureau Report