Japanese Princess Mako’s wedding postponed until 2020
TOKYO — Japan’s imperial palace said Wednesday that Princess Mako’s wedding will be postponed two years because of insufficient preparations and denied speculation the decision was related to tabloid criticism of her fiance’s family background.
Mako and her college classmate Kei Komuro, a commoner, announced their engagement last September and were to wed in November.
In announcing the delay, the Imperial Household Agency cited “a series of important ceremonies next year,” apparently meaning the planned handover of the Chrysanthemum Throne. No new dates for the wedding or its preceding rituals were given.
Mako is Emperor Akihito’s oldest grandchild. The 84-year-old emperor is to abdicate on April 30, 2019, with Crown Prince Naruhito taking the throne the next day.