Wedding plans trigger royal row
JAPAN’S Princess Mako and her fiance, a commoner, announced their engagement yesterday, a match which will cost the princess her royal status, according to a law that highlights the male-dominated nature of Japan’s monarchy.
Like all women imperial family members Mako, Emperor Akihito’s eldest granddaughter, forfeits her status upon marriage to a commoner under a controversial tradition, which does not apply to men.
But at a televised media conference held to announce her engagement, she told the nation that she felt really happy.
“I was always aware I would leave royal status once I married,” she said. “While I work to help the emperor and fulfil duties as a royal family member as much as I can, I cherish my own life.”
Her fiance, Kei Komuro, 25, who works at a law firm and once won a tourism promotion contest to be crowned “Prince of the Sea”, said he had proposed to her more than three years ago.
He said Mako quietly watched over him “like the moon”, while she said his smile was “like the sun”.
An official of the Imperial Household Agency said their wedding would take place next autumn.
Mako, 25, is the eldest daughter of Prince Akishino, Akihito’s second son. Akihito and both his sons wedded commoners, all now part of the monarchy.
The news of the engagement has intensified debate on whether the law should be changed so as to increase the number of potential male heirs to a monarchy that does not allow females to ascend the Chrysanthemum Throne.
At present there are only three heirs: the Emperor’s elder son Naruhito, younger son Akishino, and his son Hisahito.