Japan’s Princess Mako Postpones Marriage To Commoner Sweetheart Due To ‘Immaturity’
The fairytale romance between Japan's Princess Mako and a commoner may be coming to an end, as the 26-year-old postponed their upcoming nuptials.
We Just Regret It
Mako and her fiance Kei Komuro, a commoner, have reportedly hit the brakes. Their much talked-about wedding has been called off until 2020, if not later. The two are allegedly not ready to commit yet.
The wedding was originally set for this coming November. It would have been a massive occasion for Japan and its royal family.
"It is because of our immaturity and we just regret it," the couple said via a statement on Tuesday.
Mako and Komuro announced their plans to marry last year. The two, who have been together for six years, met at a study-abroad event while at university in Tokyo.
Komuro previously gained fame as the "Prince of the Sea," after starring in a beach tourism campaign for Fujisawa, a city south of Tokyo. He currently works at a law firm.
The couple's statement also referred to how both of them may have rushed into things.
"I wish to think about marriage more deeply and concretely and give sufficient time to prepare our marriage and for after the marriage," Mako said.
Sources from the Imperial Household suggested that a lack of time to properly plan the wedding may have contributed to the postponement of the couple's wedding.
Although the couple already announced their plans to marry, they were not formally engaged yet. They had planned to do so in a traditional ceremony next month, before their wedding in November.
Mako's grandparents, current leader Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko, reportedly respect the Princess's decision to wait.
"We feel extremely sorry for causing great trouble and further burden to those who have willingly supported us," Mako advised in a statement.
Losing Out For Love
The upcoming marriage was huge news in Japan as, under their centuries-old law, it would have required Princess Mako to give up her royal status. Her aunt, Sayako, Akihito's only daughter, was the last to do so. She married a town planner back in 2005.
The imperial law dictates that only male heirs may inherit the throne. Crown Prince Naruhito will succeed his father who will abdicate on April 30, 2019.
Mako is currently one of the seven unmarried princesses, all of whom would lose their royal status if they chose to marry commoners.
