Prince Mikasa, uncle of Emperor Akihito, turned 100 years old on Wednesday.

The prince is the oldest member of the Imperial family, living through the reign of three different Emperors in the Taisho, Showa and Heisei eras. He is the only living royal family member to have served in the military during the Sino-Japanese war from 1937 and the Pacific Theater of World War II.

"Nothing will change just because I turn 100 years old," the prince said in a statement issued through the Imperial Household Agency.