Engagement & Marriage of Princess Mako and Kei Komuro: September 2017 - 2021


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Princess Mako's official engagement with classmate eyed in summer - The Mainichi
Princess Mako, the first grandchild of Emperor Akihito, will officially become engaged to a university classmate most likely in summer, the Imperial Household Agency said Thursday.

[...]

The agency confirmed their impending engagement after news of it broke on May 16.

[Agency chief Shinichiro] Yamamoto said initially that the two were to officially become engaged in fall but the agency is now considering moving up the schedule by a few months following media reports.

To hasten the announcement for their formal engagement would be in the best interest of the princess and her fiance-to-be, he said.

[...]
Click to expand...
 
IHA Grand Steward Shinichiro Yamamoto will officially announce Princess Mako's engagement to Kei Komuro on July 8th. The couple will hold a press conference that afternoon.

Source: Mainichi

ETA: English articles

Engagement of Princess Mako to be announced on July 8 - The Mainichi

Princess Mako's engagement to be officially announced on July 8 | The Japan Times

Asahi clarified it's still an informal engagement according to Japanese rites.

Princess Mako's engagement to be announced July 8: The Asahi Shimbun
The informal engagement of Princess Mako with Kei Komuro, her former university classmate, will be officially announced July 8, the Imperial Household Agency said June 20.

It's been set for a Saturday so it doesn't interfere with Komuro’s job at a legal office.

The oldest of Emperor Akihito's four grandchildren will not become officially engaged until later when a separate betrothal rite, called "nosai no gi," is conducted at a formal ceremony.

[...]

Mako [...] returned June 8 from an official visit to Bhutan, and has invited Komuro and his mother to the Imperial Palace several times.
Click to expand...
 
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Details on Princess Mako and Kei Komuro's July 8th engagement announcement:
  • IHA staff will pick up Kei Komuro from Yokohama in the morning and take him to the Akishino residence
  • Grand Steward Shinichiro Yamamoto will report to the Emperor, Empress, and Akishino couple
  • Accompanied by Princess Mako, Mr. Komuro will visit the Imperial Palace where he will be introduced to Their Majesties
  • Grand Steward Shinichiro Yamamoto will announce the engagement at 11:15am
  • Princess Mako and Mr. Komuro will hold a press conference at 3pm
  • In the evening, Mr. Komuro and his mother Kayo will have dinner at the Akishino residence
Sources: Sankei, Mainichi

NHK reports Princess Mako and Kei Komuro met often for the past month to prepare for the announcement and press conference at the Akishino residence.
 
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The engagement announcement has been postponed due to heavy rain damage and casualties in southwestern Japan.

Deadly rains delays Princess Mako's engagement announcement - The Mainichi
The government has decided to postpone Saturday's announcement of the engagement of Princess Mako, the eldest granddaughter of Emperor Akihito, in light of record rains in southwestern Japan that have killed several people, according to sources close to the matter.

[...]

Downpours continued Friday in Japan's southwestern main island of Kyushu, where extremely heavy rain has left six dead and hundreds trapped by floodwaters.
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Princess Sayako's engagement announcement was postponed twice due to an earthquake in Niigata Prefecture and then Princess Takamatsu's death in 2004. [Sankei]
 
It is unfortunate that the engagement announcement has been postponed.
 
Princess Mako's engagement to be announced on Sept. 3 - The Mainichi
Princess Mako, the eldest granddaughter of Emperor Akihito, and her longtime boyfriend Kei Komuro will meet the press together on Sept. 3 for the announcement of their engagement, the Imperial Household Agency said Thursday.

The announcement had originally been planned for July 8 but the couple decided to postpone it in the wake of damage brought by heavy rain that hit southwestern Japan prefectures earlier in the month.

The agency proposed that the princess and Komuro, both 25 years old, earlier this month set another date for the announcement, while confirming reconstruction efforts in the devastated areas, according to the agency.

The new announcement day was fixed after the adjustment of schedules for the emperor, Empress Michiko, and the princess's parents Prince Akishino and Princess Kiko.

[...]

On the morning of Sept. 3, the emperor is expected to carry out a procedure to approve their marriage. Agency chief Shinichiro Yamamoto will then hold a press conference to announce the couple's engagement after reporting to the emperor and empress, as well as the princess' parents, that he would make the announcement to the public.

[...]

Their engagement will be formalized through a traditional rite of betrothal called "Nosai no Gi." It will be followed by a number of ceremonies in the run-up to their wedding expected for 2018.

[...]
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Kei Komuro left his Kohoku-ku, Yokohama City residence around 8:45am and arrived at Akasaka Estate around 9:30am.

Photos: Asahi, Asahi 2

ETA: Princess Mako travelled to the Imperial Palace around 11:08am.
https://cdn.mainichi.jp/vol1/2017/09/03/20170903k0000e040187000p/9.jpg
http://www.asahicom.jp/articles/images/AS20170903000794_comm.jpg

Another view of her hat: http://www.sankei.com/images/news/170903/lif1709030029-p2.jpg

Prince Akishino and Princess Kiko going to the Imperial Palace:
http://www.asahicom.jp/articles/images/AS20170903000809_comm.jpg

Imperial Household Agency announces Princess Mako's engagement - The Mainichi
[...]

Agency Grand Steward Shinichiro Yamamoto made the announcement at a news conference in Tokyo.

[...]

"Nosai no gi," an engagement ceremony in which Komuro's messenger will present betrothal gifts to Prince Akishino's family; and "Kokki no gi," a ceremony in which Komuro's messenger will notify Prince Akishino's family of the schedule of their marriage, will be held before their wedding, expected next year.

Prior to Yamamoto's news conference, Emperor Akihito held a ceremony to approve the marriage between Princess Mako and Komuro.

[...]
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Congratulations to The Princess and Mr Kei Komuro on their engagement :flowers:

They look very happy and I wish them all the best.
 
When the wedding date?
 
Princess Mako looks so happy and in love! They make a cute couple.

I love what she said in the interview. She is very down to earth
 
The list of spares is getting shorter.

The Imperial Family is down to, how many is it now? 16 or so? Of which the majority are women.
 
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Thanks, Eya. ?

And only four, including the Emperor, are men...

A reform may be overdue! Especially since a survey showed about 85 % being in favor of women becoming the ruling empress.
 
So...in 100 years or less the line will be no more?


LaRae
 
Muhler said:
Thanks, Eya. ?

And only four, including the Emperor, are men...
Click to expand...

Five:
The Emperor, The Crown Prince, Prince Akishino. Prince Hisahito and the Emperor's brother Prince Hitachi
 
Pranter said:
So...in 100 years or less the line will be no more?


LaRae
Click to expand...

Perhaps less.
Because the Emperor is on his way out. The Crown Prince is on his way in, so they can't be counted among the spares.

That leaves three spares... (Thanks Stefan) - before emergency measures may have to be taken.
That's dangerously few!
To paraphrase Ten Little... (well, you know):
Three little spares walked towards the throne - one died and then there were two.
Two little spares walked... - one turned out unsuitable and then there was one...
One little spare turned out to be sterile and then there were none...
 
I'm not up to speed on the Japanese monarchy ...do any of the few remaining have children that can inherit?


LaRae
 
Engagement of Princess Mako and Kei Komuro: September 2017

There is the emperor and his 2 sons. The Crown Prince has only a girl, his brother has one son. The emperor's brother has no children. So if the lone male grandson doesn't have any male children, the throne is in trouble. I did a quick Wikipedia search. Hirohito's brothers don't have any surviving male members. So there are no cousins of the emperor to take over if the current line runs out of males.
 
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Biri said:
When the wedding date?
Click to expand...
Probably late summer or fall 2018.

It's official: Princess Mako to marry former university classmate | The Japan Times
[...]

The couple’s wedding ceremony is planned for next year, but not before summer, the agency said.

[...]

Their engagement will become official in Imperial terms after the completion of the traditional rite of betrothal called Nosai no Gi, in which Komuro’s messenger visits the princess’ Imperial residence with gifts to formally vow engagement. The couple will go through several more rites until the wedding, including the Kokki no Gi, in which the wedding date will be announced by Komuro’s messenger.

[...]
Click to expand...
Princess Mako's tax-exempt lump sum is expected to be around 130 - 140 million Yen. [Sankei]

When asked what they call each other, Princess Mako said they are now using each other's first names. She refrained from a demonstration. Throughout the press conference, Kei Komuro referred to Mako as "Miya-sama" and she called him "Komuro-san." [Sankei 2]

ANN’s 7-minute version:
FNN’s full 13-minute press conference:
ETA: Princess Mako and fiance Kei wax lyrical over heavenly love：The Asahi Shimbun
 
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Skippyboo said:
There is the emperor and his 2 sons. The Crown Prince has only a girl, his brother has one son. The emperor's brother has no children. So if the lone male grandson doesn't have any male children, the throne is in trouble. I did a quick Wikipedia search. Hirohito's brothers don't have any surviving male members. So there are no cousins of the emperor to take over if the current line runs out of males.
Click to expand...

Oh that is cutting it thin...things rest on one boy. Interesting that the line has so few children.


LaRae
 
It's more of a male only inherits that's a problem. If they allowed women to inherit, then it isn't a issue anymore. But with the current rules, once a Japanese princess marries, she is no longer a member of the royal family.

Even the British throne would have a hard time surviving if it only allowed male heirs. The Houses of Stuart, Hanover, Windsor all descend through a female line.
 
Thanks for the update!
Princess Mako and Mr Komura look nice together.
 
They're a good looking young couple! I wish them all the best. I've been so impressed by what I've seen of Mako. She seems demure, (by Western standards), cheerful, and proper without being stiff. She's very self possessed.
I like that her future husband looks at her like he knows what a lucky man he is!
 
Congratulations to them! They are certainly an attractive young couple, and they seem to both be sweet people, and very happy together. Wishing them a long lifetime of happiness and love :wub:
 
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