A Japanese princess will give up her royal status so that she can marry a graduate student she met at a party.
Princess Mako has become engaged to Kei Komuro, a former tourism campaign worker who once starred in a “Prince of the Sea” campaign.
The granddaughter of Emperor Akihito, the 25-year-old princess will lose her royal status when she ties the knot with Mr Komuro, who now reportedly works at a law firm.
The pair, both graduates from the International Christian University in Tokyo, met a party at a restaurant in Shibuya about five years ago.
Japanese imperial law requires a princess to give up her royal privileges if she choses to marry a commoner.
According to public broadcaster NHK, Mr Komuro once worked to promote tourism to the beaches of Shonan in Kanagawa prefecture.
The broadcaster also reported that he has already been introduced to the princess’s parents, who approve the marriage.
Little is known of the princess due to the royal family’s secretive traditions in Japan, though according to local media she was the first member to attend university.
She also attended the University of Edinburgh on exchange during her course.
Japan is currently preparing legislation to allow Emperor Akihito, who is 83, to abdicate, which would be the first abdication in Japan in 20 years.
