Princess Mako, a niece of Emperor Naruhito and the eldest daughter of Crown Prince Akishino, turned 29 on Friday, marking her birthday at a time when public attention remains focused on her delayed marriage to her university boyfriend Kei Komuro.
A date for her marriage to Komuro, who is currently studying at a New York law school, has yet to be set after it was postponed from 2018.
Amid the novel coronavirus pandemic, the princess has been spending more time at her residence as the family reduces its official engagements in light of the situation.