The eldest granddaughter of Japan’s emperor is to give up her royal status in order to marry a legal assistant, reigniting concerns surrounding the future of the world’s oldest monarchy.
Princess Mako plans to marry Kei Komuro, a legal assistant who apparently loves the ocean and enjoys skiing, playing the violin and cooking, according to Japanese media reports.
The pair, both 25, reportedly met five years ago at a party being held to discuss studying abroad when they were both students at International Christian University in Tokyo.
News of their as yet unofficial betrothal was reported widely by mainstream Japanese media, which claimed that Princess Mako had already introduced Mr Komuro to her parents, who approve of their relationship.
The Imperial Household Agency declined to comment, although a formal engagement announcement confirming the young couple’s plans to marry is expected to be made next month.
Princess Mako faces having to give up her imperial status and becoming a commoner when she marries Mr Komuro, most likely swapping a royal allowance for the right to vote and potentially pay taxes.
Her plans to marry a commoner also highlight the challenges facing the ever-shrinking imperial family and its future survival in the light of its sensitive, males-only succession law. There are currently only four heirs to the throne – Emperor Akihito’s two middle-aged sons, his 80-something brother and Princess Mako’s younger brother, 10-year-old Prince Hisahito.
The imperial family is already stepping into unchartered waters as a result of the 83-year-old emperor’s unprecedented plans to abdicate – the first such instance in the family in nearly two centuries.
Japan’s cabinet is expected to approve a one-off Bill tomorrow to permit the emperor to step down according to his wishes, following his pubic announcement last August that he feared age would impede his ability to fulfil his duties.
However, the sensitive issue of amending the male-only succession law or permitting women to stay in the imperial family after marrying a commoner will not feature in the new legislation.
When asked about the shortage of royals, Yoshihide Suga, chief cabinet secretary, told the press: “There is no change in our view to proceed with consideration of steps to ensure stable imperial succession.”
His comments coincided with the princess’s future husband, Mr Komura, appearing outside the Tokyo law offices where he works, where he bowed to reporters before telling them: “Now is not the time for me to comment, but I want to speak at the right time.”
He has been presented positively in the Japanese media, with countless reports highlighting how he was once crowned “prince of the sea” as part of a tourism campaign promoting the seaside town Fujisawa in Kanagawa prefecture.
Princess Mako currently works as a researcher at a museum following her graduation with a master’s degree in museum and gallery studies at the University of Leicester.
The marriage process is likely to be steeped in traditional betrothal rituals, with Mr Komura first having to send a messenger to visit the Imperial Palace with gifts to make an official vow of engagement.
Japan's Prince Hisahito, wearing a traditional ceremonial attire, is accompanied by his parents, Prince Akishino, Princess Kiko, his sisters Princess Mako, left, and Princess Kako, right, after attending "Chakko-no-gi" ceremony to celebrate his growth and the passage from infancy to childhood in 2011
Princess Mako’s union will cast a difficult spotlight on the imperial family’s male-only succession laws. The powerful conservative lobby fears that allowing women to stay in the imperial family after marriage would be a first step towards females inheriting the throne.
However, a recent poll found 86 per cent of Japanese in favour of a woman assuming the throne.
Nearly 60 per cent of 3,000 surveyed by Kyodo News also supported the children of female royals ascending to the throne, which is currently not permitted.
Emperor Akihito has only four grandchildren and Prince Hisahito, 10, is the sole male – and hence the only heir of his generation.
