Ayako Moriya

Ayako Moriya (守谷 絢子, Moriya Ayako), born on 15 September 1990, is a former member of the Imperial House of Japan. She is the youngest of three daughters of Norihito, Prince Takamado, and Hisako, Princess Takamado. Her birth took place at Aiiku Hospital in Minami-Azabu, Tokyo. Notably, she was the first member of the Imperial Family to be born during the Heisei era, which began in 1989, and is the era of her first cousin once removed, Emperor Akihito.

Educationally, Princess Ayako attended Gakushūin School, a prestigious institution for primary, junior high, and high school education. During her time at Gakushūin Women's High School, she participated in a school-sponsored homestay program in New Zealand in 2007. In April 2009, she enrolled at Josai International University (JIU), where she studied Social Work. She completed her undergraduate degree in March 2013 and was subsequently accepted into the graduate program at JIU. In September 2013, she returned to Camosun College in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, to undertake intensive English studies, which she completed in April 2015. Prior to returning to Japan in August 2015, she also spent time at the University of British Columbia. On 16 March 2018, she graduated from Josai University with a master's degree in social welfare and became a research fellow at JIU's Faculty of Social Work Studies.

Her engagement to Kei Moriya was officially announced in August 2018. The couple was introduced by Princess Takamado, Ayako’s mother, in December 2017. Kei Moriya, a graduate of Keio University, is employed by Nippon Yusen, a shipping firm. The engagement ceremony took place on 12 August 2018, and the wedding was held on 29 October 2018 at Meiji Shrine in Tokyo. The wedding ceremony adhered to Shinto rituals and was attended by approximately 1,000 well-wishers. The bride wore a kimono and hakama, and the groom appeared in a morning suit, with a top hat previously belonging to Prince Takamado. The couple received a one-time allowance of ¥107 million from the government. They held a reception at the New Otani Hotel on 31 October 2018, attended by the then Crown Prince and Crown Princess. Unlike other princesses who have renounced their royal status upon marriage, Ayako retained her positions as honorary president of the Canada-Japan Society and the Japan Sea Cadet Federation, a decision attributed to the limited size of the imperial family, although officials stated it was based on an agreement between her and the organizations.

On 6 August 2019, it was announced that Ayako was expecting her first child. She gave birth to her son, Jō Moriya, on 17 November 2019, at Aiiku Hospital in Tokyo. Her second son was born on 1 September 2022 at the same hospital. On 10 May 2024, she gave birth to her third son.

Her titles changed from "Her Imperial Highness Princess Ayako of Takamado" (15 September 1990 – 29 October 2018) to "Mrs. Kei Moriya" following her marriage.