Princess Mako of Akishino has officially announced her engagement to law clerk Kei Komuro, her former classmate at Tokyo's International Christian University.
- Sep 4, 2017
AceShowbiz - Princess Mako will be abandoning her royal status to marry a commoner. The eldest grandchild of Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko has officially announced her engagement to law clerk Kei Komuro, whom she met when they both studied at Tokyo's International Christian University.
At a news conference on Sunday, September 3, the 25-year-old princess said, "First I was attracted by his bright smile." The two have dated for five years and Komuro proposed to Mako after dinner in December 2013.
Princess Mako revealed that they talked for the first time at an event for students ahead of a study-abroad program in Shibuya, Tokyo about five years ago. Over time, she learned that he's "a sincere, strong-minded, hard worker, and he has a big heart."
Princess Mako has since introduced him to her parents, Fumihito (Prince Akishino), the second-in-line to the Chrysanthem Throne, and Kiko (Princess Akishino), as someone she wished to "share her future with."
Their wedding is expected to take place sometime in 2018. A series of related rituals, including Nosai no Gi, a formal engagement ceremony in which the groom presents gifts, will be carried out before the wedding.
Article 12 of the Imperial House Law stipulates that a woman in the Imperial Family shall lose her status in the family if she marries a person outside the family. Of this, Princess Mako said, "From my childhood, I have spent my life, bearing in mind that when I get married, I would lose my Imperial Family member status."
On Sunday morning, Princess Mako introduced Komuro to the Emperor and Empress at the Imperial couple's residence at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo's Chiyoda Ward. The royal couple was reportedly impressed as the Emperor was quoted as saying, "It's good because the weather is fine today."
Akihito announced his wish to abdicate in August, citing age and declining health. Following his abdication which could be at the end of 2018 or early 2019, his eldest son Crown Prince Naruhito will replace him.
