Princess Mako: Will you follow her little sister Kako into exile?

Princess Kako
Will she follow ex-princess Mako into exile?

Princess Mako (left) and Princess Kako (right)

© Jiji Press / Yusuke Morishita / Picture Alliance

The Japanese imperial family could soon have a personnel problem: Princess Mako’s sister Kako is said to have fallen in love with a commoner. If there is a wedding, the court loses an important person.

Since the marriage of Princess Mako, 31, and her flight into exile, her younger sister Princess Kako, 27, the second daughter of Crown Prince Fumihito, 56, and Princess Kiko, 56, has been in the front row to represent the Japanese imperial family . But that could change now. The reason: Kako, like her sister, is said to have fallen in love with a commoner. A rumor that is currently making waves.

Does Princess Kako love an unknown “Mr. A.”?

After studying in the UK for a while, Princess Kako returned to Japan a few years ago to complete her art studies at the International Christian University in Tokyo. During her studies, the daughter of Prince Fumihito, second in line to the throne, is said to have fallen in love with a certain “Mr. A.”, whom she is said to have met at Leeds University, according to international media reports for the past few days. Photos have since been circulating in the Japanese press, showing the princess in an English bar with a young man’s face blurred.

Kako and the stranger are said to have formed closer ties after their months together at the renowned British university and have remained in close contact even after Kako returned home.

The Japanese imperial family has a personnel problem

According to Japanese tabloid media, the man who turned Kako’s head is said to have graduated from Tokyo Agricultural University. However, he does not have noble roots – and that could be a problem for Princess Kako. The Japanese imperial family follows strict rules, a family member falls in love with a commoner, he or she loses their title and reputation in Japan, as Princess Mako made clear – her wedding on October 26, 2021 was surrounded by various protests and campaigns against her and overshadowed her great love.

If Kako has actually fallen in love with a commoner and is even considering marrying him, the imperial family faces another problem. More recently, the Japan Times expressed concern about the shortage of available Japanese princesses and suggested that “the government is considering granting a new honorary title to women of the imperial family who lose their status after marriage so that they can to participate in public office”.

This would be a happy coincidence, especially for Princess Kako, after all she is the only female member of the Yamato dynasty in her generation – alongside her first cousin, the 20-year-old daughter of Emperor Naruhito, 62, Aiko von Toshi.

Does Kako have the same courage as Princess Mako?

So far, the Kaiserhof has not commented on the rumors. When Japanese media reported in 2017 that Princess Kako was having a relationship with the son of Koro Horiuchi, chairman of the railway company Fuji Kyuko, this was promptly denied by the man’s mother. In 2019, Kako was also asked by “Women’s Weekly” about this alleged love story. “I’m sorry I can’t answer that,” she said with a shy smile at the time — sticking to protocol is the family’s top priority.

But when it comes to love, sometimes it has to be broken. Kako noticed that firsthand from her sister. Will Kako have the same courage as Mako to fight for her love?

Sources used: gala.fr, pointdevue.fr, japantimes.co.jp

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