In what's like a reverse fairytale, a Japanese princess has married a commoner - and lost her royal status.
Hundreds of well-wishers lined the streets as Princess Sayako married Yoshiki Kuroda on Tuesday.
It's the first time a daughter of an Emperor has married a non-royal and Sayako, 36, has lost any right to the throne under Japanese law.
To prepare for her new life, Sayako has taken driving lessons and practised shopping at supermarkets.
Sayako Kuroda, as she will now be known, told a press conference that her father and mother - Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko - had reassured her that her family ties were unchanged.
"The empress then hugged me tightly and told me 'Everything's going to be OK', many times," she said.
Her husband, who's an urban planner, said: "While respecting each other's views, I would like to make a quiet home where you can feel at ease."
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