Sayako Kuroda
Encyclopedia
, formerly , is the third child and only daughter of Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko of Japan
. She held the childhood appellation "Nori no miya" (Princess Nori). She married Yoshiki Kuroda on 15 November 2005. As a result, she gave up her imperial title and left the Japanese Imperial Family, as required by law.
, in 1992. Later in the year she was accepted as research associate
at the Yamashina Institute for Ornithology
, where she specialized in the study of kingfisher
s. In 1998, she was appointed researcher
at the same institute. She contributed articles about birds to various academic works.
Apart from her research, she has traveled extensively abroad and within Japan, as a representative of the Imperial family.
announced the engagement
of Princess Nori to Yoshiki Kuroda, a 40-year-old urban designer
with the Tokyo
Metropolitan Government and a longtime friend of Prince Akishino
. Upon her marriage, which took place at the Imperial Hotel, Tokyo
on 15 November 2005, Princess Nori left the Imperial Family, taking the surname of her husband, the first commoner of non-aristocratic background to marry an Imperial Princess. These changes in her status are demanded by a 1947 law that requires female members of the Imperial Family to relinquish their birth position, official membership in the Imperial Family, and allowance upon their marriage. Her parents, the Emperor and Empress, were in attendance at the wedding, as were Crown Prince Naruhito
, Crown Princess Masako
and other members of the Imperial Family.
Kuroda resigned from her job as an ornithologist in order to focus on her family life and potential motherhood. While she will no longer be entitled to an imperial allowance, she reportedly received a dowry
of over one million dollars.
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. She held the childhood appellation "Nori no miya" (Princess Nori). She married Yoshiki Kuroda on 15 November 2005. As a result, she gave up her imperial title and left the Japanese Imperial Family, as required by law.
Education
Princess Sayako studied at and graduated from the Department of Japanese Language and Literature, Faculty of Letters, Gakushuin UniversityGakushuin University
is an elite higher educational institution in Mejiro, Toshima Ward, Tokyo. It was re-established after World War II as an affiliate of the Gakushūin School Corporation, the privatized successor to the original Gakushūin University or "Peers School" set up during the Meiji era to educate the...
, in 1992. Later in the year she was accepted as research associate
Research associate
The title of research associate is used to denote an academic research position at a university or similar institution. A research associate usually conducts research under the supervision of a principal investigator. In contrast to a research assistant or research officer, a research associate...
at the Yamashina Institute for Ornithology
Yamashina Institute for Ornithology
The is a non-profit scientific research organization in Japan, specializing in ornithology studies.-History:The Yamashina Institute for Ornithology was founded by Dr. Yoshimaro Yamashina at his home in Shibuya, Tokyo as a private museum to store his collection of bird specimens and books. Marquis...
, where she specialized in the study of kingfisher
Kingfisher
Kingfishers are a group of small to medium sized brightly coloured birds in the order Coraciiformes. They have a cosmopolitan distribution, with most species being found in the Old World and Australia...
s. In 1998, she was appointed researcher
Researcher
A researcher is somebody who performs research, the search for knowledge or in general any systematic investigation to establish facts. Researchers can work in academic, industrial, government, or private institutions.-Examples of research institutions:...
at the same institute. She contributed articles about birds to various academic works.
Apart from her research, she has traveled extensively abroad and within Japan, as a representative of the Imperial family.
Engagement and marriage
On 30 December 2004, the Imperial Household AgencyImperial Household Agency
The is a government agency of Japan in charge of the state matters concerning Japan's imperial family and also keeping the Privy Seal and the State Seal...
announced the engagement
Engagement
An engagement or betrothal is a promise to marry, and also the period of time between proposal and marriage which may be lengthy or trivial. During this period, a couple is said to be betrothed, affianced, engaged to be married, or simply engaged...
of Princess Nori to Yoshiki Kuroda, a 40-year-old urban designer
Urban planning
Urban planning incorporates areas such as economics, design, ecology, sociology, geography, law, political science, and statistics to guide and ensure the orderly development of settlements and communities....
with the Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
Metropolitan Government and a longtime friend of Prince Akishino
Prince Akishino
Fumihito, The Prince Akishino is a member of the Japanese imperial family...
. Upon her marriage, which took place at the Imperial Hotel, Tokyo
Imperial Hotel, Tokyo
The Imperial Hotel, Tokyo, Japan, was created in the late 1880s at the request of the Japanese aristocracy to cater to the increasing number of western visitors to Japan. The hotel site is located just south of the Imperial Palace grounds, next to the previous location of the Palace moat...
on 15 November 2005, Princess Nori left the Imperial Family, taking the surname of her husband, the first commoner of non-aristocratic background to marry an Imperial Princess. These changes in her status are demanded by a 1947 law that requires female members of the Imperial Family to relinquish their birth position, official membership in the Imperial Family, and allowance upon their marriage. Her parents, the Emperor and Empress, were in attendance at the wedding, as were Crown Prince Naruhito
Naruhito, Crown Prince of Japan
is the eldest son of Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko, which makes him the heir apparent to the Chrysanthemum Throne of Japan.-Early life and education:...
, Crown Princess Masako
Masako, Crown Princess of Japan
is the wife of Crown Prince Naruhito, the first son of the Emperor Akihito and the Empress Michiko, and a member of the Imperial House of Japan through marriage.-Early life and education:...
and other members of the Imperial Family.
Kuroda resigned from her job as an ornithologist in order to focus on her family life and potential motherhood. While she will no longer be entitled to an imperial allowance, she reportedly received a dowry
Dowry
A dowry is the money, goods, or estate that a woman brings forth to the marriage. It contrasts with bride price, which is paid to the bride's parents, and dower, which is property settled on the bride herself by the groom at the time of marriage. The same culture may simultaneously practice both...
of over one million dollars.
Titles and styles
- April 18, 1969 – November 15, 2005: Her Imperial Highness the Princess Nori
- November 15, 2005 – present: Mrs. Kuroda Sayako
Ancestry
External links
- Kunaicho — Her Imperial Highness Princess Sayako
- Kunaicho — Responses to Questions on the Occasion of the Birthday of Her Imperial Highness Princess Sayako (2005)
- Hello! magazine — Article on Sayako and Yoshiki Kuroda's wedding
- BBC News — The wedding takes place
- The princess and the people - The ScotsmanThe ScotsmanThe Scotsman is a British newspaper, published in Edinburgh.As of August 2011 it had an audited circulation of 38,423, down from about 100,000 in the 1980s....