Princess Mako, the eldest granddaughter of Emperor Akihito, and her fiance, Kei Komuro, are merely postponing their wedding and their intention to marry is unchanged, the Imperial Household Agency reiterated Thursday.
"I've heard it's just a postponement and their intention to get married is unchanged. I hope their feelings are understood and that they will be watched over warmly and quietly," Shinichiro Yamamoto, the agency's grand steward, said at a news conference.
On Tuesday, the princess said through the agency that she wants to postpone the marriage with her classmate from university days until 2020, citing "lack of time to make sufficient preparations."