When Princess Ayako, the youngest daughter of Emperor Akihito’s late cousin, announced that she would be marrying a commoner, many were curious about whether she would renounce her royal status.
Despite leaving the imperial family following her marriage, she will still retain honorary positions at two organizations, according to the Imperial Household Agency and the bodies’ officials.
No other female imperial family member has ever continued to serve in such positions after becoming a commoner upon marriage, according to the agency.
It was reported that the princess would retain her positions amid concerns about the shrinking number of imperial family members performing public duties as women. The agency believes the practice is unlikely to pose any problem, as the Canada-Japan Society and the Japan Sea Cadet Federation, where the princess holds the honorary president positions, don’t restrict titleholders to imperial family members.
Bu aside from renouncing her royal status, people were also wondering about Princess Ayako’s wedding dress. Myriad rituals mark the couple’s engagement and wedding. On Friday, the princess visited a shrine inside the Imperial Palace and took part in a ceremony to bid farewell to Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko.
On Monday morning, Princess Ayako will arrive at the Meiji Shrine to meet her husband-to-be, wearing a uchiki outer robe and hakama, wide-legged pleated trousers that are tied at the waist and fall to the ankles. Afterwards, the princess will change into the more formal kouchiki, a “small cloak” with long, wide sleeves, and a long divided skirt called a naga-bakama. After the wedding the newlyweds will attend a reception banquet in the presence of the Crown Prince and Crown Princess, where Ayako will be toasted into the Moriya family. It’s not yet clear what Ayako will choose to wear for the occasion, but previous royal brides have worn Western-style white dresses.
By: Maytinee Kramer
