A 31-year-old photographer and a 25-year-old Waseda University science and engineering graduate — Why is there a string of “son-in-law” reports on 21-year-old Princess Aiko?

Over the past month, reports of a son-in-law for Aiko, 21, the eldest daughter of the Emperor and Empress, have continued to circulate. Specifically, they are the second son (25) of the former Kayo family, one of the 11 families that were deposed by GHQ in 1947, and the grandson of Sen’ei Ikenobo, the head of the Ikenobo school of flower arrangement and a photographer, Senshu Ikenobo (31)” (Imperial Household journalist).

The current head of the Kayo family, Mr. Masanori, has been a schoolmate of His Majesty the Emperor since kindergarten at Gakushuin. After working in the private sector, he moved to the Imperial Household Agency and was seconded to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and now belongs to the Office of the Grand Master of Ceremonies of the Imperial Household Agency. His second son graduated from Gakushuin High School and then from the School of Science and Engineering at Waseda University.

Senso Ikenobo’s grandmother is Yasuko Ikenobo, 80, former Vice Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, and his mother is Senko Ikenobo, 57, the fourth head of the Ikenobo family, which boasts over 500 years of history.

The Ikenobo family is one of the most prestigious families in Japan, and if you trace the lineage of the Ikenobo family back a few generations, you will find many influential people in the political and business world, not to mention the royal family and the nobility. Mr. Senshu, who has been named as a potential partner, has a background of having entered the Faculty of Science and Technology at Keio University and then re-entered the University of Tokyo, where he graduated with a degree in law.

What is the background to this string of news reports?

The strong public criticism of the Akishino family is still continuing, and it appears to be having an impact. It is difficult to regain the trust of the public, and the reduction in the number of members of the Imperial Family is an urgent issue.

In other words, the issue of succession to the Imperial Throne seems to be involved.

Aiko will be able to remain in the Imperial Family if a boy from the former Imperial Family who has left the Imperial Family in the past is adopted by the head of one of the current Imperial Families, and then married to Princess Aiko. Furthermore, if a boy is born to the two of them, he will have the right to succeed to the Imperial Throne as a male member of the Emperor’s direct lineage. After His Majesty, the order of succession will be Prince Hisahito of Akishino and then Prince Hisahito of Akishino, but it is the duty of those behind the scenes to always be prepared for “what if” scenarios. In that sense, this is a promising scenario.

In a sense, this is a marriage of political maneuvering.

Aiko Aiko was told by His Majesty that she would be the one to marry him. It seems that Princess Aiko has been told by His Majesty that she should lead the life she wants to lead. However, it is said that she also feels that she cannot turn her back on the pressing issues facing the Imperial Family.

It is assumed that Princess Aiko would not think in such a way without a great deal of determination.

For a 21-year-old university student who has just recovered from the COVID-19 crisis, the situation seems to be nothing short of terrible, but how will it all end?