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Japanese Princess surrenders her royal title, marries a commoner

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Japanese Princess surrenders her royal title, marries a commoner

Japanese Princess Ayako dressed in a traditional ceremonial gown, and Japanese businessman Kei Moriya arrive at Meiji Shrine for their wedding ceremony in Tokyo

Women who marry commoners must leave the family.

Published: Tue 30 Oct 2018, 8:20 AM

Updated: Tue 30 Oct 2018, 10:30 AM

  • By
  • AP

A Japanese princess has married a commoner in a ceremony at Tokyo's Meiji Shrine.
Princess Ayako is the 28-year-old daughter of the emperor's cousin, and the groom, 32-year-old Kei Moriya, works for major shipping company Nippon Yusen.
The couple was shown on national news walking slowly before guests at the shrine Monday morning.
She wore a Heian-era style hairdo and a traditional robe splashed with red and green patterns while Moriya wore coattails.
Women who marry into the imperial family become members of the family, but those who marry commoners, like Ayako, must leave.
The eldest daughter of Emperor Akihito is set to marry a commoner in 2020.
Akihito has said he will abdicate. His eldest son, Crown Prince Naruhito, will ascend to the Chrysanthemum Throne on May 1. 

Japanese Princess Ayako dressed in a traditional ceremonial gown, and Japanese businessman Kei Moriya arrive at Meiji Shrine for their wedding ceremony in Tokyo

Japanese Princess Ayako dressed in a traditional ceremonial gown, and Japanese businessman Kei Moriya arrive at Meiji Shrine for their wedding ceremony in Tokyo

Japanese Princess Ayako dressed in a traditional ceremonial gown, and Japanese businessman Kei Moriya arrive at Meiji Shrine for their wedding ceremony in Tokyo

Japanese Princess Ayako dressed in a traditional ceremonial gown, and Japanese businessman Kei Moriya arrive at Meiji Shrine for their wedding ceremony in Tokyo



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