Tokyo- The 28 years old Japan’s imperial family’s Princess Ayako married with commoner Kei Moriya on 29th October at a traditional ceremony at Tokyo’s Meiji Shrine, after married to Ayako she becomes the latest female royal to leave Japan’s imperial family.
However, Princess Ayako is the third daughter of Emperor Akihito’s late cousin Prince Takamado, who married with Kei Moriya, a 32-year-old employee of shipping company Nippon Yusen.
“I’m filled with joy to get married and to have so many people visit us at the Meiji Shrine and congratulate us.” –Princess Ayako
On the occasions of the wedding’s ceremony the princess gear down a many-layered court kimono-style dress and configure hairdo typical of the imperial aristocracy. But on the other side, Princess Ayako wore a black tuxedo with grey trousers for the amplified ceremony at the shrine dedicated to the spirit of her great-grandfather, Emperor Meiji.
Earlier this month, as is the practice for women under Japan’s succession law Princess Ayako had to renounce her imperial status as she married a commoner. She will become Ayako Moriya after signing marriage papers.
Interestingly, Japan’s royal family is experiencing a shortage of male heirs. Crown Prince Naruhito, who will take over after Akihito abdicates next year, his brother Fumihito, his nephew Hisahito and Masahito, the octogenarian brother of the current emperor, are the only four male heirs to the throne left.
According to the report, Emperor Akihito was the first crown prince to marry a commoner, who became Empress Michiko. The Japanese royals have been given freedom to marry whom they choose for at least three generations. Luckily, the duo met on the tennis court.
Following the incident of the decline of the imperial family, the shrinking royal family has raised distress and calls for changes in the Imperial Succession Law, but conservatives are deeply repellent to allow females to the heir of the Chrysanthemum Throne.