A Japanese princess gave up her royal status on Monday as she tied the knot with a commoner in a traditional Shinto ceremony at a Tokyo shrine.
Princess Ayako, 28, the youngest daughter of a late cousin of Emperor Akihito, married Kei Moriya, a 32-year-old employee of Nippon Yusen, the shipping company.
While the marriage was celebrated widely in Japanese media, the union – and Princess Ayako’s departure from the royal family – cast a firm spotlight on Japan’s Imperial succession law.
Despite a looming succession crisis as the Imperial family shrinks in size, laws continue to dictate that female members are unable to inherit the throne or maintain their royal status after marrying a commoner, unlike their male counterparts.
Princess Ayako’s wedding took place in the serene confines of Meiji Jingu, a shrine surrounded by forests in central Tokyo which is dedicated to the spirit of the bride’s great grandfather Emperor Meiji.
The bride was dressed in traditional court clothing, including an intricately decorated kimono robe and wide layered trousers, while her hair was sleeked back in distinct aristocratic style.
