Princess Mako of Japan turns her back on her royal status, to marry a commoner.
It can be a high price to pay when you fall in love, just ask Princess Mako of Japan. Under Japan’s controversial law, if a female royal family member chooses to marry a commoner, they automatically surrender their royal status.
Since the 25 year old princess hinted at her pending engagement to law firm worker Kei Komuro also 25, the challenges facing the ever-shrinking imperial family and its future survival in light of its sensitive, males-only succession law are far more apparent than ever before.
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 country is already grappling with the possibility that 83 year old Emperor Akihito is hinting at abdicating the throne.
For the last two centuries, no Japanese Emperor has abdicated, and as for imperial law, it currently doesn’t allow it.
The Japanese government is expected to approve a one-off Bill 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.
Emperor Akihito has only four grandchildren and Prince Hisahito, 10, is the sole male – and hence the only heir of his generation. Under Japanese law, Akihito and his two sons were able to marry commoners, who then became part of the monarchy.
Princess Mako met Komuro 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 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.
Whilst the Imperial Household has declined to deny, confirm or comment, on the couples desire to marry, a formal engagement announcement is expected to made as early as next month
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.
Princess Mako can look to her Aunt Princess Sayako the only daughter of Akihito for guidance. After Sayako’s low key wedding to a commoner, she moved into a one bed-room apartment, learned how to drive a car, and shop in a supermarket for the first time. Her loss of title was compensated for with a $1 million payout from the government.
