Noriko Senge

Noriko Senge, born on 22 July 1988 in Minami-Azabu, Tokyo, is a former member of Japan's Imperial House. She is the second daughter of Norihito, Prince Takamado, and Hisako, Princess Takamado. Her birth took place at Aiiku Hospital in Tokyo, and her name was chosen by her father, Prince Takamado.

She attended Gakushuin Kindergarten, followed by primary, junior high, and high school education at the Gakushuin School, an institution known for educating members of Japan’s Imperial Family and the aristocracy. In April 2007, she enrolled at Gakushuin University in the Faculty of Letters, Department of Psychology, where she expressed an interest in clinical psychology. She graduated from Gakushuin University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology on 20 March 2011.

In July 2008, she reached the age of majority and participated in official ceremonies alongside the Imperial Family. She attended various official functions at the Imperial Palace and accompanied her mother to some events independently.

On 27 May 2014, Princess Noriko announced her engagement to Kunimaro Senge, born 2 September 1973. He is a kannushi, or shrine priest, at the Izumo-taisha shrine, which is operated by the Senge family, who have served as hereditary administrators of the shrine for generations. The Senge family previously held the title of baron in the peerage system before its abolition in 1947.

The marriage ceremony was held on 5 October 2014 at the Izumo Grand Shrine. Kunimaro Senge is the eldest son of Senge Takamasa, the head priest of the shrine. Through their shared ancestry, he is a second cousin (twice removed) of the current Emperor and a distant relative of Princess Noriko. Both are related through descent from Prince Kujō Michitaka, the father of Empress Teimei, and Marquis Nakayama Tadayasu, maternal grandfather of Emperor Meiji. They also share distant relations through other imperial relatives, including Princess Mikasa, Princess Hitachi, and former princesses Takamatsu and Chichibu.

Following her marriage, she relinquished her imperial status in accordance with the Imperial Household Law of 1947, which mandates that women of the Imperial Family lose their titles and official membership upon marriage to a commoner. She is therefore known as Mrs. Kunimaro Senge since her marriage.

She is the seventh female member of the Imperial Family to marry a commoner since 1947 and the first to do so since Princess Nori (Sayako) in 2005. The Japanese government provided a one-time allowance of ¥106.75 million to the newlyweds.

Her titles changed from "Her Imperial Highness Princess Noriko of Takamado" before her marriage to "Mrs. Kunimaro Senge" afterward.