Preparation for the marriage of Japanese Princess Sayako, the 35-year-old daughter of Emperor Akihito, and Yoshiki Kuroda, a Tokyo metropolitan government employee, started in full swing at the Imperial Household Agency on Monday, a day after news broke about their engagement.

According to Kyodo News, many Imperial Household Agency officials did not know about the engagement, which was a closely-guarded secret, until the Asahi Shimbun broke the story on Sunday, prompting the agency to make an announcement before the intended time.

At a press conference Sunday, Shingo Haketa, vice-grand stewardof the Imperial Household Agency, said an official announcement will be made in late December in line with the wishes of the princess, popularly known as Princess Nori, and Kuroda, 39.

The royal wedding is expected to take place early next year. Under the Imperial Household Law, Princess Nori will give up her royal title after marriage.

According to the agency, the engagement announcement had been intended for earlier this month, but was postponed out of consideration for the victims of earthquakes that struck north Japan's Niigata Prefecture on Oct. 23.

Source: Xinhua