The abrupt announcement that Princess Mako's formal engagement and marriage to her fiance will be delayed has sparked speculation of reasons other than the official version.
The Imperial Household Agency's said Tuesday that the princess and law firm worker Kei Komuro, both 26, will wait until 2020, citing "lack of preparation."
She is not the first female member of the Imperial family to postpone marriage-related ceremonies, but most of her predecessors made their decisions amid extraordinary circumstances such as natural disasters.