Another Japanese princess has renounced her status to marry a commoner. Princess Ayako, 27, and Kei Moriya, 32, are set to be engaged this August 12. Their wedding will take place at Tokyo’s Meiji Jingu shrine on October 29. Under Japanese imperial law, the princess will have to leave the family after marriage. She will receive however, a bonus of around one million dollars.
Ayako is the third and youngest daughter of the late Prince Takamodo (Emperor Akihito’s cousin). Since 2014, two other members of the royal family have married non-royals. Both are Ayako’s cousins. Princess Noriko gave up her royal title in 2014. She was married to a Shinto priest. Her younger sister Princess Mako did the same thing last year. and is currently engaged to paralegal Kei Komoro.
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A Step to the Future
Unlike Noriko and Mako, Ayako is not a direct descendant of Emperor Akihito. However, this raises concerns on the dwindling number of royal family. The world’s oldest hereditary monarchy is now down to 17 members. Japan is now working to modernize their laws. Legislators are looking at allowing female members to marry commoners, stay within the royal family, and start their own royal branch. The male-only succession law is also up for discussion. Last year, they were able to pass a law that will allow Emperor Akihito to abdicate the throne due to old age.
The United Kingdom has modernized their own laws with regards to royal succession. The old primogeniture law was abolished back in 2011. This now makes Prince William and Kate Middleton’s firstborn, regardless of gender, England’s next ruler. Though traditions were upheld when Prince George was born, Princess Charlotte will not be demoted with Prince Louis’ arrival.
