During Medieval times it is quite common to see kings dine with kings and princes marrying princesses. Maybe slay a couple of dragons or two along the way and encounter several chests of gold, emeralds, and rubies before saving the oft-desired princess. Even dukes and lesser lords were inclined to keep their wealth and land with other ranking officials. But in the modern day and age where kings and queens are slowly diminishing and princesses are rare, the royal ones still need to get married.
And that is the case of a princess in Japan who chose to give up her royal status in order to marry a ‘commoner.’
Read on to find out more on the story of Princess Mako.
25-year-old Princess Mako who is the granddaughter of Emperor Akihito and the eldest daughter of Prince Akishino is set to marry Kei Komuro.
Kei is a graduate student who works at a law firm and Mako is well…a princess!
The two met while attending a study-abroad event about five years ago. It was at a restaurant in Shibuya that the two students hit it off.
Due to their impending marriage, Mako will have to forego her royal status as she will be considered a ‘commoner’ after marriage.
Furthermore, her ascension towards the Chrysanthemum Throne will be limited since it is only passed on to male heirs.
But her fiance has some royal blood in him too. Kei once starred in a beach tourism advertisement for the city of Fujisawa where he was deemed the ‘Prince of the Sea.’
In an interview with reporters, he jokingly said: ‘when the right time comes, I’d like to talk about it.’
The two were students at the International Christian University in Tokyo when they first met. Now they are preparing for their wedding and Mako has even introduced Kei to her parents.
Since royal Japanese wedding procedures are ‘highly ritualized’ and extremely ceremonial, it will be some time before the wedding ceremonies actually take place.
First, there is the public announcement, followed by a wedding date. Then, a formal report to the emperor and empress herself.
Mako isn’t the first person to forego her royal status for true love since her aunt, Sayako, did the same thing in 2005 when she married a town planner named Yoshiki Kuroda.
Congratulations to Mako and Kei! We hope that they have a fantastic wedding and an even better and long lasting marriage!
The upcoming engagement of Emperor Akihito’s granddaughter to her college sweetheart has brought joy to Japan but is highlighting the vulnerability of the male-dominated imperial family at a sensitive time for the ancient institution. / AFP PHOTO / JIJI PRESS / STR / Japan OUT
