Princess Mako in Bhutan

Last week saw the Japanese embassy extending diplomacy across the borders and spilling into Bhutan

Updated At : 07:09 AM Jun 12, 2017 IST

Japan’s Princess Mako is greeted by a Bhutanese delegate prior to her departure from the Paro Airport in Bhutan. AFP file

Simran Sodhi

Last week saw the Japanese embassy extending diplomacy across the borders and spilling into Bhutan. The occasion was the visit of Princess Mako, a granddaughter of Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko, who was in Bhutan on a nine-day trip. Japan’s ambassador to India Kenji Hiramatsu, who also serves as the ambassador to Bhutan, left for the Himalayan kingdom to perform his diplomatic duties there.

What makes the visit unique is that Princess Mako, who is the eldest daughter of Prince Akishino and Princess Kiko, is expected to be engaged this summer to a former university classmate. This has caused quite a stir in Japan as her impending marriage to a commoner, Kei Komuro, will see her lose her royal title. Under Japanese law, any female royal family member loses her status on marrying a commoner. The law is currently being debated in Japan, as is the entire issue surrounding the chrysanthemum throne. Emperor Akihito has even hinted at abdicating his throne, which has shaken the country where the monarchy is still

much revered.

During the nine days that Princess Mako spent in Bhutan, she travelled to many places within the pristine and beautiful nation and participated in events like the opening ceremony of the Royal Bhutan Flower Exhibition and delivered a speech in English at the opening ceremony for Japan Week, an event designed to introduce Japanese culture to

the Bhutanese people.

The visit also saw an interesting display of the traditions and cultures of both Bhutan and Japan. The 25-year-old princess chose to wear the traditional furisode (long-sleeved kimono) when she paid a courtesy call on Bhutanese King Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuck and his wife, Queen Jetsun Pema. The Bhutanese royals were dressed in the beautiful traditional attires of the Himalayan kingdom.

Bhutan is one of the few nations in India’s immediate neighbourhood with which it enjoys great warmth and trust. That is also the reason why many of the ambassadors based in New Delhi also serve as envoys to Bhutan. The Japanese embassy does not have an official residence in Thimpu and operates out of its New Delhi premises only. The nuance here being the closely wound relations between India and Bhutan which allow nations like Japan to then conduct diplomacy in coordination.

This was only the third official visit by Princess Mako and the coming summer will see her pay a heavy price for love. She is set to toss the title and royalty to marry a man of her choice. Apart from the personal statements, it will see the Japanese royal family struggle with yet another crisis.