Princess Mako’s betrothal highlights succession woes

In the spotlight: The news of Princess Mako’s upcoming engagement sent the country into a tizzy. — AFP

Tokyo: Emperor Akihito’s granddaughter’s upcoming engagement to her college sweetheart, a commoner, will cost the princess her royal status in a move that highlights the male-dominated nature of Japan’s monarchy as it faces a potential succession crisis.

Public broadcaster NHK broke the story of the engagement late Tuesday, sending the country into a tizzy with the news dominating television chat shows and newspaper coverage ahead of an expected official announcement in coming weeks.