- Title: Japanese princess leaves imperial family to marry
- Date: 29th October 2018
- Summary: TOKYO, JAPAN (OCTOBER 29, 2018) (REUTERS) ***WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** VISITORS WAITING FOR AYAKO AND MORIYA VARIOUS OF AYAKO AND MORIYA WALKING VARIOUS OF AYAKO AND MORIYA BOWING AYAKO AND MORIYA LEAVING EXTERIOR OF MEIJI SHRINE (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) WEDDING VISITOR FROM KYOTO, SHINOBU NARUMIYA, SAYING: "Their relationship is so wonderful that it makes us, all Japanese nationals, also happy. I hope they will be happy together." (SOUNDBITE) (English) WEDDING VISITORS FROM SINGAPORE, FRENCH NATIONAL SAMIR CHAIBI (RIGHT), AND U.S. NATIONAL NASREEN CHAIBI (LEFT), SAYING: SAMIR: "We are very lucky I think to be here today to witness this, right?" NASREEN: "Yeah, same here. Very lucky." EXTERIOR OF MEIJI SHRINE
- Embargoed: 12th November 2018 07:24
- Keywords: Japan royal family Princess Ayako Kei Moriya wedding marriage Japanese princess princess
- Location: TOKYO, JAPAN
- City: TOKYO, JAPAN
- Country: Japan
- Topics: Arts / Culture / Entertainment,Royals
- Reuters ID: LVA003944AGXX
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Japanese Princess Ayako became the latest female royal to leave the Imperial family on Monday (October 29) after marrying commoner Kei Moriya on Monday (October 29) in a traditional ceremony at Tokyo's famed Meiji Shrine.
The 28-year-old princess, the third daughter of Emperor Akihito's late cousin Prince Takamado, tied the knot with 32-year-old Moriya, an employee of Japan's shipping company Nippon Yusen, at a private Shinto wedding at the shrine dedicated to the spirit of her great-grandfather, Emperor Meiji. Hundreds of guests and well-wishers queued up outside hoping to get a glimpse at the couple.
Ayako, who wore a 12-layered court kimono along with a moulded hair-do of imperial aristocracy, will lose her princess status under Japan's males-only succession law after signing official marriage papers later on Monday. She will thereafter be known as Ayako Moriya.
The shrinking royal population, which mirrors the broader ageing of Japanese society, has raised concerns and calls for changes in the Imperial Law of Succession. But conservatives are deeply resistant to allowing females to inherit the throne.
Crown Prince Naruhito, who takes 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. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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