Japan’s Princess Ayako has surrendered her royal title after marrying a commoner in Tokyo yesterday.
The 28-year-old princess, the third daughter of Emperor Akihito’s late cousin Prince Takamado, lost her status after her wedding to Kei Moriya, a 32-year-old employee at a shipping company.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The private ceremony was held on Monday morning at the Meiji Shrine, where hundreds of well-wishers gathered to see the bride and groom arrive.
Ayako wore a light yellow kimono embroidered with pink flowers and green leaves and a deep purple hakama - wide-legged pleated trousers that fall to the ankles, CNN reports.
Moriya opted for a western style western-style black morning coat, grey pin-striped trousers and a silk hat that belonged to Ayako’s late father, Prince Takamodo, the news site adds.
“I’m filled with joy to get married and to have so many people visit us at the Meiji Shrine and congratulate us,” the bride told reporters after the wedding.
According to the Japan Times, Ayako will receive ¥107 million (£740,000) “in order to maintain her high standard of living even after she loses her royal status.”
With only four male heirs to the throne currently living, the shrinking size of the royal family “has raised concerns and calls for changes in the Imperial Succession Law, but conservatives are deeply resistant to allowing females to inherit the Chrysanthemum Throne”, Reuters reports.
-
7 mountain hotels perfect for a tranquil autumn or winter escapeThe Week Recommends Get (altitude) high and unwind
-
‘Deskilling’: a dangerous side effect of AI useThe explainer Workers are increasingly reliant on the new technology
-
The biggest sports betting scandals in historyIn Depth The recent indictments of professional athletes were the latest in a long line of scandals
-
Nigeria confused by Trump invasion threatSpeed Read Trump has claimed the country is persecuting Christians
-
Sanae Takaichi: Japan’s Iron Lady set to be the country’s first woman prime ministerIn the Spotlight Takaichi is a member of Japan’s conservative, nationalist Liberal Democratic Party
-
Japan poised to get first woman prime ministerSpeed Read The ruling Liberal Democratic Party elected former Economic Security Minister Sanae Takaichi
-
Russia is ‘helping China’ prepare for an invasion of TaiwanIn the Spotlight Russia is reportedly allowing China access to military training
-
Interpol arrests hundreds in Africa-wide sextortion crackdownIN THE SPOTLIGHT A series of stings disrupts major cybercrime operations as law enforcement estimates millions in losses from schemes designed to prey on lonely users
-
China is silently expanding its influence in American citiesUnder the Radar New York City and San Francisco, among others, have reportedly been targeted
-
How China uses 'dark fleets' to circumvent trade sanctionsThe Explainer The fleets are used to smuggle goods like oil and fish
-
US and Japan strike trade dealSpeed Read Trump signed what he's calling the 'largest deal ever made'
