Japanese Princess Mako to marry former university classmate

Tokyo – The Imperial Household Agency announced in a much-anticipated televised news conference Sunday, that Princess Mako , the eldest grandchild of Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko , will marry a former university classmate Kei Komuro. The wedding will take place after the summer of 2018. Mako is the eldest daughter of Prince Akishino, Akihito’s second son. Her fiance Kei is a commoner, and under traditional law, upon marriage to a commoner, the princess will lose her royal status. Nonetheless, Princess Mako was ‘really happy’ of making the announcement. She said ” I’ve been aware since childhood that I would leave royal status once I marry. While I worked to help the emperor and fulfill duties as a royal family member as much as I can, I’ve been cherishing my own life”

Japan Times reported that the princess and her fiance, Kei Komuro, both 25, described their relationship in a very romantic way, comparing it to that of the sun and moon. “Together with Mr. Komuro, I would like to make a warm and peaceful family that is full of smiles,” Princess Mako said at the news conference in Tokyo’s Akasaka district, after the Emperor officially approved of their engagement during a ceremony Sunday morning. In response, Komuro said Princess Mako “has been quietly watching over me like the moon.” “I would like to have a family that is always calm and peaceful,” he added.