What is the Japanese Imperial Familys last name?
Unlike many European royal families (e.g., the Windsors), the Japanese Imperial Family has no surname. As a result, when a woman marries into the family, she loses her last name. In many instances, she is known by a feminized version of her husband s first name. Thus, Princess Kiko, the wife of the Emperor s second son, Prince Akishino, is sometimes known as Princess Akishino. The situation is analogous to that in Great Britain where, for example, the wife of Prince Michael of Kent is known as Princess Michael.
