Japanese Princess Ayako marries commoner at sanctuary ceremony

TOKYO – The Japanese princess Ayako married a commoner at a ritual ceremony Monday at the Meiji Shrine in Tokyo.

Ayako and groom Kei Moriya were shown to the national news by slowly walking in front of the guests of the shrine. The wedding took place in one of the pagoda-shaped buildings of the shrine complex and included an exchange of rings and sharing a cup of sake, according to Japanese media.

Both rituals are relatively routine for Shinto-style weddings, including those of ordinary Japanese.

Ayako, 28, is the daughter of the emperor's cousin and Moriya, 32, works for the big shipping company Nippon Yusen.

She wore a Heian-style hairstyle, which is tucked into a ponytail, and a traditional dress dotted with red and green patterns, while Moriya wore a headdress. She then changed into a red Japanese dress.