Souvenirs are sold to celebrate the wedding of Princess Sayako and Yoshiki Kuroda.
#1: JIJI- I think this is a miniature wedding cake
#2: A hotel employee poses with commemorative Princess Sayako wedding cakes which are on sale for 8 euros each at a hotel in Tokyo, Wednesday 9 November 2005. Japan's Princess Sayako is set to wed her commoner fiance next week, meaning she will relinquish her royal title. The stunning princess the only daughter of Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko will become Mrs Sayako Kuroda when she weds urban planner Yoshiki Kuroda on November 15. According to Japanese laws, the 36-year-old will have to leave the Imperial family for life as a typical housewife. It is the first time an emperor's daughter has married a commoner since Princess Takako, one of the late Emperor Hirohito's five daughters, married Hisanaga Shimazu in 1960. EPA/ANDY RAIN
#1: From FNN news-video showing how Empress Michiko helps Princess Sayako prepare for her wedding and her upcoming days as being Mrs. Kuroda http://www.bcast.co.jp/cgi-bin/yahoo...1&media=wm300k
(a very good video with footages of her childhood)
The princess and the bureaucrat: a modern-day fairytale in reverse
From Leo Lewis in Tokyo
(She swaps the palace and servants for a flat and the chores) SHE has spent the past 36 years comfortably nestled under the elegant cloisters of the world’s oldest monarchy. Surrounded by all the history and art of the Chrysanthemum Throne, she has been chauffeured everywhere by limousine, constantly waited upon, and brought up among the most elite cliques of Japan......
Some large photos of Mr. Kuroda and Princess Sayako from Newscom ang Getty Images
#1: In this photo provided by the Imperial Household Agency of Japan, Japan's Princess Sayako dressed in ancient Japanese formal court ensemble junihitoe (twelve-layered kimono garments) is seen at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2005. The princess will be clad in the ancient court wear in a traditional 'Choken-no-gi' ceremony on Saturday, her last rite as a member of the Imperial family, ahead of her marriage to Tokyo government official Yoshiki Kuroda on Nov. 15. (AP Photo/The Imperial Household Agency of Japan, HO)
#2: (Large photo from Newscom) Handout picture dated 19 October 2005 released by the Imperial Household Agency of Japan on Friday, 11 November 2005, shows Japan's Princess Sayako in ancient Japanese formal court ensemble junihitoe (twelve-layered kimono garments) at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo.
#3: BBC news
#4: Getty images
#5: Corbis
#1,5-6: Japan's Princess Sayako in ancient Japanese formal court ensemble junihitoe (twelve-layered kimono garments) pays respects at sanctuaries where Japanese gods and the spirits of late emperors are enshrined, at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo November 12, 2005. The princess wore the traditional kimono in the traditional rite on Saturday ahead of her marriage to Tokyo government official Yoshiki Kuroda on November 15. (AP)
#2-3: Japan's Princess Sayako (C) in ancient Japanese formal court ensemble junihitoe (twelve-layered kimono garments) is led by a Master of Rituals as she pays respects at sanctuaries where Japanese gods and the spirits of late emperors are enshrined, at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo November 12, 2005. (Reuters)
#4,7-8: (Large photo from Newscom)
#9: Getty images
#10: Japan Times article Princess Sayako honors legendary gods in rite ahead of wedding http://www.japantoday.com/e/?content...at=1&id=355182
I can see that Princess Sayako was wearing a ring on her right hand from the Oct. 23rd video. I wonder if it's a engagment ring or a present from Mr. Kuroda.
Princess Sayako attending the 'Choken-no-gi' ceremony on Nov. 12, 2005.
Japan's Princess Sayako, Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko attend a traditional 'Choken-no-gi' ceremony, Princess's last rite as a member of the Imperial family, at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo November 12, 2005. Princess Sayako, the only daughter of Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko, bid farewell to her parents in the ritual on Saturday ahead of her marriage to Tokyo government official Yoshiki Kuroda on November 15.
#1,9: NNN news video- http://www.bcast.co.jp/cgi-bin/yahoo...0&media=wm300k
(Can someone who understand Japanese translate what the Emperor, Empress and Princess Sayako said? Thx)
#2: ANN news video- http://www.bcast.co.jp/cgi-bin/yahoo...1&media=wm300k
#3: FNN news video- http://www.bcast.co.jp/cgi-bin/yahoo...1&media=wm300k
#4,10: NHK news
#5-6: Some close up of Princess Sayako in the ceremony from Reuters
#5: Japan's Princess Sayako wearing a white western-style dress arrives for a traditional 'Choken-no-gi' ceremony to bid farewell to the emperor and empress at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo November 12, 2005.
#6: Japan's Princess Sayako wearing a white western-style dress takes seat after she bid farewell to the emperor and empress during a traditional 'Choken-no-gi' ceremony at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo November 12, 2005.
#7: TBS news video- http://www.bcast.co.jp/cgi-bin/yahoo...1&media=wm300k
#8: Yomiuri news
#1-5: Official Photos of the two ceremonies from Kunaicho website
#1-2: Princess Sayako paying reverence at sanctuaries in the Imperial Palace in the morning.
#3-5: 'Choken-no-gi' ceremony
Thanks again for the pictures, Mandyy!!
I find the Princess stunning, the traditional costume suited her wonderfully!!
I'm looking forward to the official ceremony, it will be the first for me because I was young at the last Japanese imperial wedding!!:)
Thanks for all the pics & articles mandyy. She looks very happy....but I think you can see a little bit of nervousness in her face (at least that's what I think).
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Do you know if there will be any european royals in this wedding?
I don't think any European royals are going to the wedding, only the Japanese Imperial Family, the family of Mr. Kuroda, close friends, colleagues of the couple, and Mr. Kuroda's boss which is the Tokyo Governor are going to attend the ceremony and reception.
Princess Nori delivers farewell to Emperor, Empress Yomiuri news
Princess Nori delivered a farewell address to the Emperor and Empress in Matsu-no-Ma hall of the Imperial Palace on Saturday afternoon in Choken-no-Gi, the final ceremony prior to her wedding to Tokyo metropolitan government employee, Yoshiki Kuroda on Tuesday.
The princess appeared in the hall wearing a white long dress with golden-lace stitching, a medal and a tiara...... http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national...13TDY01004.htm
After the ceremony, the princess released a statement through the Imperial Household Agency: "I really feel I am leaving the place that I have been familiar with for a long time. I also feel a little loneliness."
(From Yomiuri news)
It's quite sad to hear what Princess Sayako said after the ceremony.
Can someone help me understand what future contact with her parents is likely to be? Although she will no longer be a member of the Imperial Household, is she restricted from seeing them?
From what I have read around the interenet, Princess Nori will have to make an appointment to see her parents and to check ahead to see if there is not scheduling conflicts. She will see her parents in a private capacity but she will no longer be allowed daily access to them. |Hope that helps!!
SHE has spent the past 36 years comfortably nestled under the elegant cloisters of the world’s oldest monarchy. Surrounded by all the history and art of the Chrysanthemum Throne, she has been chauffeured everywhere by limousine, constantly waited upon, and brought up among the most elite cliques of Japan......
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