Imperial Household Agency on Tuesday announced an engagement
of Princess Noriko, second daughter of a cousin of Emperor Akihito, or the late
Prince Takamado, with the eldest son of the chief priest of Izumo Grand Shrine,
Kunimaro Senge. Since Izumo Shrine is widely believed as an institution of
engagement of couples, the news spread to the most Japanese people as a happy romance.
However, wedding of Imperial Family has complicated elements.
After Noriko and Kunimaro met for the first time seven years
ago, they kept their relationship with support of both of their families. While
Noriko has been working as a young Imperial member after graduating college,
the engagement was made “naturally” without any words of wedding proposal from
Kunimaro. According to Kunimaro, Senge family is the descendants of the second
son of God Amaterasu who is believed as the origin of the Imperial Family.
In press conference, Noriko told that she had been sorry
about letting Kunimaro wait for a long time until announcement of their
engagement. It indicated that they were closely watching the discussion over
establishment of “Female Imperial House.”
Imperial House Law requires a female imperial family to
leave the house, when she is married with a common man. Her name will be deleted
from the family list and housekeeping money will be stopped. Instead, she will
obtain voting right in elections and duty of paying taxes.
However, there was an argument that such a rule may lead to
a less functional Imperial Family. Few families may also cause elimination of
the House with less productivity of the members. Despite Imperial House Law
determines that the Emperor must be acceded by male family in the Imperial
House, there is only one unmarried young male, Prince Sakihito in Akishino Family.
The government of Japan has discussed a possibility for
female imperial families to stay in the list of the Imperial House by creating
“Female Imperial House.” But Abe administration, which is selling itself as a
promoter of more active role of women as represented by unique concept called
“womanomics,” has yet discussed it.
The ceremony of engagement will be held in July and their
wedding will be at Izumo Grand Shrine on October. The couple will start their
new life in Izumo city. “Though I’m feeling sadness of leaving Imperial House a
little and holding some worries on new life in Izumo, it might not be making a
big difference from marriages of many women,” told Noriko. Everybody wants
happy wedding for her and her house, anyway.
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