Japanese princess surrenders status to marry commoner

PRINCESS Mako, Emperor Akihito’s oldest grandchild, has announced she will leave the Japanese royal family to marry her former university classmate.

Women are not allowed to succeed to Japan’s Chrysanthemum throne, and Princess Mako will lose her royal status after marrying Kei Komuro, who is a commoner.

Princess Mako and Mr Komuro, both 25, met while studying at Tokyo’s International Christian University.

“First I was attracted by his bright smile,” Princess Mako told a press conference. Mr Komuro, who proposed in December 2013, said he was happy to have been accepted by her parents, Prince Akishino and Princess Kiko.