The Cabinet said Friday it will spend 131 million yen in taxpayer money on the funeral of Princess Takamatsu, an aunt of Emperor Akihito.
Referring to the use of taxpayer money for the funeral of a member of the Imperial family, the Imperial Household Agency explained, "Members of the Imperial household have a public status under the Imperial House Law and can be a subject of national condolences."
Princess Takamatsu died on Dec. 18 of blood poisoning at a Tokyo hospital at age 92. Her funeral is to be held Sunday.
Of the total, about 80 million yen will be spent to cover the cost of the funeral itself, about 26 million yen for her grave, about 19 million yen for various ceremonies to be held at her residence and about 6 million yen for administrative fees.
The funeral in 2002 of Prince Takamado, a cousin of the Emperor, cost 187 million yen, compared with 98 million yen for the funeral of Princess Chichibu, another aunt of the Emperor, in 1995, and 101 million yen for Prince Takamatsu, the husband of Princess Takamatsu, in 1987.