You may never have heard her name, but Japan’s Princess Mako is set to make history when she relinquishes her royal title to marry a mere civilian: a paralegal by the name of Kei Komuro.
The Princess and Komuro met five years ago while studying at Tokyo’s International Christian University, according to reports by Japan national broadcaster NHK.
The nation’s Imperial Household confirmed to CNN that plans are underway for the engagement, which is only deemed official once a traditional ceremony has taken place.
Imperial law demands that Japanese royalty must give up their titles if they wish to marry commoners. Princess Mako isn’t the first to do so – her aunt Sayako gave up the crown to marry a town planner in 2005.
Japanese media has become enraptured by Kei Komuro, camping outside the law firm where he works, but so far the man who stole the Princess’s heart has refused to cooperate. “I would like to talk about it when the time comes,” is all he has said so far.
Fun fact: Komuro once starred in a national tourism campaign in the role of “Prince of the Sea.” A title the Japanese royal family clearly refuses to acknowledge.
