Japanese Princess Ayako Gives Up Royal Status To Marry A Commoner

Princess Ayako will no longer be a royal as she marries a commoner Kei Moriya at a traditional ceremony at Tokyo’s Meiji Shrine.

The 28-year old, the third daughter of Emperor Akihito’s late cousin Prince Takamado tied the knot with Kei Moriya, a 32-year-old employee of shipping company Nippon Yusen on Monday making her the latest female royal to leave Japan’s imperial family.

The princess wore a many-layered court kimono and molded hairdo typical of the imperial aristocracy, while the groom wore a black tuxedo with grey trousers for the ceremony at the shrine dedicated to the spirit of her great-grandfather, Emperor Meiji.

“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 told a news conference after the private Shinto wedding ceremony.