A member of Japan’s royal family, Princess Mako, is to surrender her royal status by marrying a commoner.
The 25-year-old eldest granddaughter of Emperor Akihito will become engaged to law firm worker Kei Komuro, also 25, whom she met while they studied together at the International Christian University in Tokyo.
Japan’s imperial law requires a princess to leave the Imperial Family after marrying a commoner and lose their imperial style and title.
Succession to the Japanese throne is only through the male line and only males can be in the line of succession. Currently, the line of succession has only four people. Unless the succession is changed to allow for female succession, the future of the succession falls solely upon young Prince Hisahito, Princess Mako’s little brother.