From Japanese Imperial Princess to a commoner Shinto priestess: SAYAKO KURODA TURNS 50

Today, April 18, Sayako Kuroda, formerly Princess Nori of Japan, marks her 50th Birthday. The youngest child & only daughter of outgoing Emperor Akihito & Empress Michiko, she is a commoner since her wedding to urban designer Yushiki Kuroda in 2005.

Her jubilee is not expected to be celebrated out of family privacy, but she was seen today accompanying her parents at a farewell visit to the ancient Ise Shrine (& a pre-abdication ritual ceremony called Shinetsu-no-gi), in her capacity as the shrine's Supreme Priestess.

Emperor Akihito at today's (Thursday, 18/04/2019) ritual

Sayako was born on April 18, 1969, the third child of then-Crown Prince Akihito & Crown Princess Michiko. She was named by her grandfather, Emperor Hirohito, receiving the official title of Nori-no-miya (Princess Nori).

young Sayako with her mother, Michiko

She was raised by her parents & attended her primary, secondary & tertially education at Gakushūin, a school & university, used to educate members of aristocracy & the Imperial family since before WWII. She graduated in 1992, from the Department of (Japanese) Literature, in the Faculty of Letters (Gakushuin university).

Three months after her father succeeded the throne (April 1989), she officially "came to age" & started Imperial public engagements.

Sayako, Princess Nori (second raw, middle), with her Imperial parents (seating), brothers & sisters-in-law - 1990s/2000s

Sayako started her carrier as a researcher at Japan's Yamashina institute of Ornithology, specialized in the study of kingfishers.

The same time she developed an interest in traditional dance (performing at Tokyo's national theatre) & took part in training dogs for visually impaired people, as well.

The princess didn't reveal any plans to marry until she was 35. Then, on 30 December 2004, her engagement to Tokyo Metropolitan government's designer Yoshiki Kuroda was announced. Sayako knew Yoshiki since they were very young, and were re-introduced by her elder brother, Fumihito (Prince Akishino), with whom they had a close friendship.

Sayako & Yoshiki Kuroda at their wedding (2005)

Princess Sayako was married to Kuroda on 15 November 2005.
He was the first ever commoner to marry a Japanese Princess.
She was the first imperial princess to marry a commoner in 22 years. Princess Nori wore a white, western-style wedding dress.

Akihito & Michiko also broke the tradition by attending their daughter's wedding, held at the "Imperial Hotel" of Tokyo (though not related to the Imperial family). According to the Imperial Household legislation (of 1947), HIH Sayako, Princess Nori had to be stripped from her all of her titles & styles, and give up her membership of the Imperial family upon marrying a commoner.

Mr. & Mrs. Kuroda

Since then she took her husband's surname, & became known as Sayako Kuroda, leading a commoner life, & leaving her position of university researcher. However, she received an allowance from Japanese government for living expences, equal to ~US 1.2 million.

Yoshiki & Sayako begun living in a private appartment, with Mrs. Kuroda learning to drive & first going to supermarket just before the wedding. They do not have any children together.

Sayako Kuroda in her capacity as the Ise Shrine High Shinto priestess (2012-13)

In 2012, Sayako was appointed a High priestess of the Ise Grand shrine, an important temple for Japanese (paganist-rooted) Shinto religion, & dedicated to goddess Amaterasu (the Imperial House's 'custodian'). The Emperor of Japan was its Chief priest, while he was reveared as semi-divine (before the end of WWII). Since then a member (or former member) of the Imperial family occupied this position.

Kuroda assisted her elderly aunt, Atsuko Ikeda (an elder sister of Emperor Akihito), the supreme priestess at the time (& a commoner as well). In July 2017, she replaced her aunt in that role (on the latter's retirement), and became the Emperor's representative in annual religious festive events.

Sayako Kuroda pictured this year.

Though Sayako Kuroda stoped to receive media attention following her marriage, she has in the recent years, accompanied her family in official events (eg: state visits from abroad) & celebrations.

Her birthday today is the last major celebration for Emperor Akihito's family, ahead of his abdication at the end of this month.


Further additional links of information:
https://japantoday.com/category/national/Emperor-performs-ritual-to-report-abdication
http://www.unofficialroyalty.com/sayako-kuroda-formerly-princess-nori-of-japan/?fbclid=IwAR1R-PiAM-8Kt024SZzfWQCUkH9RvmTcmnY0wn7NbKwcsakKw4nb3dW2Wlw
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sayako_Kuroda
https://icantbelieveitsnonfiction.com/2018/06/06/princess-nori/
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2017/06/21/national/politics-diplomacy/emperors-daughter-becomes-supreme-priestess-ise-shrine/#.XLjpNugzZPY