Her mother, Empress Emerita Michiko, is an alumna of the University of the Sacred Heart and a convert to Shinto from Roman Catholicism.

[5] Sayako's parents, Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko were in attendance at her wedding, as were other members of the imperial family.

[6] Thousands of well-wishers lined the streets between the royal palace and the city hotel where the half-hour marriage rite took place.

[7] To prepare for her change of lifestyle, Princess Sayako reportedly took driving lessons and practised shopping at the supermarket.

She was among the guests during a banquet held at the Tokyo Imperial Palace in honour of King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium in October 2016.