Pre-wedding Events of Princess Sayako and Yoshiki Kuroda of Japan

[Mandy]

1) Polfoto 12-11-2005: 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/Imperial Household Agency of Japan, HO)
2) Polfoto 12-11-2005: In this photo released by the Imperial Household Agency of Japan, Japan's Princess Sayako, dressed in a purple, 12-layered kimono with orange and green trim, is seen as she pays respects at sanctuaries where Japanese gods and the spirits of late emperors are enshrined, at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo Saturday, Nov. 12, 2005. Emperor Akihito's youngest child, Princess Sayako, 36, bid a formal farewell to the royal family Saturday in a traditional ceremony ahead of her wedding next week to a commoner, a Tokyo government official Yoshiki Kuroda. (AP Photo/Imperial Household Agency of Japan, HO)
3) Polfoto 12-11-2005: In this photo released by the Imperial Household Agency, Princess Sayako of Japan, in ancient formal court ensemble, 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 Saturday, November 12, 2005. Emperor Akihito's youngest child, Princess Sayako, 36, bid a formal farewell to the royal family Saturday in a traditional ceremony ahead of her wedding next week to a commoner, a Tokyo government official Yoshiki Kuroda. (AP Photo/Imperial Household Agency of Japan, HO)
4) Polfoto 12-11-2005: In this photo released by the Imperial Household Agency, Princess Sayako of Japan, in ancient formal court ensemble, 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 Saturday, November 12, 2005. Emperor Akihito's youngest child, Princess Sayako, 36, bid a formal farewell to the royal family Saturday in a traditional ceremony ahead of her wedding next week to a commoner, a Tokyo government official Yoshiki Kuroda. (AP Photo/Imperial Household Agency of Japan, HO)

 

[Mandy]

1) Polfoto 12-11-2005: In this photo released by the Imperial Household Agency, Japan's Princess Sayako, back to camera, exchanges farewell greetings with Emperor Akihito, left, as Empress Michiko, 3rd left, looks on, during a traditional "Choken-no-gi" ceremony, her last rite as a member of the Imperial family, at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo Saturday, November 12, 2005. Emperor Akihito's youngest child, Princess Sayako, 36, bid a formal farewell to the royal family Saturday in a traditional ceremony ahead of her wedding next week to a commoner, a Tokyo government official Yoshiki Kuroda. (AP Photo/Imperial Household Agency of Japan, HO)
2) Polfoto 12-11-2005: In this photo released by the Imperial Household Agency, Japan's Princess Sayako, back to camera, exchanges farewell greetings with Empress Michiko, 3rd from left, as Emperor Akihito, left sitting, looks on, during a traditional "Choken-no-gi" ceremony, her last rite as a member of the Imperial family,at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo Saturday, November 12, 2005. Emperor Akihito's youngest child, Princess Sayako, 36, bid a formal farewell to the royal family Saturday in a traditional ceremony ahead of her wedding next week to a commoner, a Tokyo government official Yoshiki Kuroda. (AP Photo/Imperial Household Agency of Japan, HO)
3) Polfoto 12-11-2005: In this photo released by the Imperial Household Agency, Japan's Princess Sayako, right, Emperor Akihito, 5th right, and Empress Michiko, 4th right, attend a traditional "Choken-no-gi" ceremony, Princess's last rite as a member of the Imperial family, at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo Saturday, November 12, 2005. Emperor Akihito's youngest child, Princess Sayako, 36, bid a formal farewell to the royal family Saturday in a traditional ceremony ahead of her wedding next week to a commoner, a Tokyo government official Yoshiki Kuroda. (AP Photo/Imperial Household Agency of Japan, HO)
4) Polfoto 12-11-2005: Japan's Princess Sayako, right, bows in front of Emperor Akihito, left, as Empress Michiko, 3rd left, looks on, during a traditional "Choken-no-gi" ceremony, her last rite as a member of the Imperial family, at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo Saturday, November 12, 2005. Emperor Akihito's youngest child, Princess Sayako, 36, bid a formal farewell to the royal family Saturday in a traditional ceremony ahead of her wedding next week to a commoner, a Tokyo government official Yoshiki Kuroda. (AP Photo/Kyodo News)
5) Polfoto 12-11-2005: Japan's Princess Sayako sits as she exchanges farewell greetings with Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko during a traditional "Choken-no-gi" ceremony, her last rite as a member of the Imperial family, at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo Saturday, November 12, 2005. Emperor Akihito's youngest child, Princess Sayako, 36, bid a formal farewell to the royal family Saturday in a traditional ceremony ahead of her wedding next week to a commoner, a Tokyo government official Yoshiki Kuroda. (AP Photo/Kyodo News)

 

[mandyy]

A model wears an ancient Japanese formal court ensemble called a junihitoe (twelve-layered kimono garments) during a kimono show at Tokyo's Mitsukoshi department store 13 November 2005 as part of a sales promotion. Japanese Princess Sayako wore the traditional twelve-layed kimono in the imperial rite 12 November, ahead of her marriage with a commoner Yoshiki Kuroda at a Tokyo hotel 15 November.(AAP images)

 

[Lady Jennifer]

A model wears an ancient Japanese formal court ensemble called a junihitoe (twelve-layered kimono garments) during a kimono show at Tokyo's Mitsukoshi department store 13 November 2005 as part of a sales promotion. Japanese Princess Sayako wore the traditional twelve-layed kimono in the imperial rite 12 November, ahead of her marriage with a commoner Yoshiki Kuroda at a Tokyo hotel 15 November.(AAP images)

How heavy are the twelve-layered kimono garments? Are they made of a lighter material so they are easier to wear? Or are they as heavy as they look?

 

[Roxsteve]

I think it is wonderful that she is marrying the person she is truly in love with!! More power to her!!

 

[mandyy]

How heavy are the twelve-layered kimono garments? Are they made of a lighter material so they are easier to wear? Or are they as heavy as they look?

These twelve layered kimono garments are quite heavy and Princess Sayako walked very slowly when she wore them on Nov. 12.

 

[mandyy]

Princess to wed in time of change for Japan's royals
TOKYO (AFP) - The Japanese emperor's only daughter will marry a commoner Tuesday in an eagerly anticipated wedding that comes amid growing change for the world's oldest monarchy.....
http://au.news.yahoo.com/051113/19/wrto.html

No guest leaves empty-handed, but special day for princess takes its toll
It's easy to pick a wedding guest in Japan because they are the ones taking home the gifts. Tucked under their arms as they leave reception halls are cutlery, crockery, crystal: the stuff of weddings everywhere....
http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/no-guest-leaves-emptyhanded-but-special-day-for-princess-takesits-toll/2005/11/13/1131816811727.html?oneclick=true

Wedding guests bank on lucky gifts
http://www.theage.com.au/news/world/wedding-guests-bank-on-lucky-gifts/2005/11/13/1131816810651.html?oneclick=true

Princess 'Never Mind' turns her back on royal privilege to wed a commoner
The Emperor and Empress of Japan have ceremonially waved goodbye to their only daughter, who has chosen to renounce her title for love.....
http://news.independent.co.uk/world/asia/article326871.ece

Japanese Princess marries late
JAPANESE Princess Sayako, the emperor's only daughter, gets married next Tuesday at 36, an age once considered impossibly late but now the norm in a country struggling with a falling birth rate.
Princess Sayako, a part-time bird researcher, is the first woman in the modern history of the world's oldest royal line to marry in her 30s, reflecting changes in Japanese women's lifestyles........
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,17238557%255E23109,00.html

Princess bids fond farewell to palace
Princess Sayako, who will wed Tuesday and in the process become a commoner, felt "a quiet pang of loneliness" as she formally thanked her parents, Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko, during the "Choken-no-gi" farewell ceremony Saturday at the Imperial Palace......
http://www.asahi.com/english/Herald-asahi/TKY200511140102.html

 

[tlklhm]

Read from the newspaper that it is about 10kg. Both Masako and Kiko also wore it for their wedding although in different colour. And the front portion from knee to feet (black in colour) is actually long wide pant that wrap the feet.

 

[mandyy]

Out of Royalty and Into Marriage
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-princess14nov14,1,5462831.story?coll=la-headlines-world&ctrack=1&cset=true

 

[paulette]

good luck for them!

 

[mandyy]

Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Kuroda
http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/editorial/20051115TDY04005.htm

Japan princess to wed, start life as commoner
http://today.reuters.com/news/newsarticle.aspx?type=worldNews&storyid=2005-11-14T215946Z_01_MCC478919_RTRUKOC_0_US-JAPAN-PRINCESS.xml

A royal bride marries - and quits work
http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/1115/p06s01-woap.html

 

[mandyy]

Police picking up rocks in front of the Imperial Palace where Princess Sayako will pass by in the morning going to the Tokyo Imperial Hotel.
#1: FNN news video- http://www.bcast.co.jp/cgi-bin/yahoo/news.asx?cid=20051114-00000491-fnn-soci-movie-001&media=wm300k
(5 min long video)
#2: NHK news-There is about 1700 police used today to prepare for Princess Sayako's wedding
#3-4: (Newscom) Security officials pick up litter and stones outside the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, Monday 14 November 2005, in preparation for Tuesday's Royal Wedding. Princess Sayako will marry Yoshiki Kuroda November 15. Princess Sayako, 35, who will lose her royal lineage when she marries, is the only daughter of Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko. Crown Prince Naruhito is her older brother. Her 39-year-old fiance is a Tokyo metropolitan government official. Kuroda and Sayako have known each other since childhood

 

[semisquare]

i am so excited for this wedding i would like it to be televised but its not in the news over here, which is so sad. are there any pic of her wedding gown?

 

[Emily]

Does anyone know the hour difference between New York and Japan?

 

[Roxsteve]

Does anyone know the hour difference between New York and Japan?

Is it about 14 hours? Japan is ahead by 14 hours...I think.

 

[mandyy]

Princess Sayako set to marry Kuroda on Tuesday at Imperial Hotel
http://home.kyodo.co.jp/modules/fstStory/index.php?storyid=213872

Princess marries brother's friend
http://asia.news.yahoo.com/051114/kyodo/d8dsho4o8.html

 

[pdas1201]

News articles and pictures regarding Princess Sayako and Yoshiki Kuroda's actual wedding ceremony should be posted in the link provided below.

http://www.theroyalforums.com/forums/f31/princess-sayako-yoshiki-kuroda-november-15-2005-a-5979.html

 

[Lady Jennifer]

Does anyone know the hour difference between New York and Japan?

http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/

Tokyo Japan it is 9:39am & on the East Coast of the US it is 7:39pm
http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/city.html?n=248

 

[Emily]

Thank you to all!

 

[semisquare]

when she wore the 12 layred dress what is around her neck? it almost looks like a book

 

[Charlotte1]

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?

There are no restrictions, she can see her parents whenever she wants to. The Emperor had always maintained contact with his sisters who married and left the Imperial Family and they also had contact with their parents when they were still alive. Sayako won't have daily contact with her parents as she won't be living with them anymore.

 

[Skydragon]

There are no restrictions, she can see her parents whenever she wants to. The Emperor had always maintained contact with his sisters who married and left the Imperial Family and they also had contact with their parents when they were still alive. Sayako won't have daily contact with her parents as she won't be living with them anymore.

Thanks for that, I was feeling quite upset for her after listening to the news over here, telling us that she had to say goodbye to her parents.
Didn't she look wonderful!

 

[tlklhm]

In response to semisquare question - those around her neck are the different layers of junihitoe (twelve-layered kimono), not some accessories.

 

[ropura]

From Sankei Shimbun (Newspaper Sankei ).

From Japanese Times.

 

[ropura]

Japanese policemen picking the sharp-formed stones as they're afraid that the Imperial Family would have had flat tyres at Nov.14 2005,one day before pre.wedding of
Princess Sayako at front of Nishubashi bridge (Imperial Palace) Tokyo.

Photo by R.Ismangil.

 

[ropura]

Preparation Princess Sayako wedding at Nov.14 2005
front of the Imperial Palace at Tokyo Japan.


Photo by R.Ismangil.

 

[Emily]

Thank you, ropura!

 

[kei893265]

Thank you for the good photos!