Princess Mako refutes rumors after delaying marriage

TOKYO - Japan's imperial palace said on Wednesday that Princess Mako's wedding will be postponed for two years because of insufficient preparations and denied speculation the decision was related to tabloid criticism of her fiance's family background.

Mako and her college classmate Kei Komuro, a commoner, announced their engagement in September and were to wed in November.

In announcing the delay, the Imperial Household Agency cited "a series of important ceremonies next year", apparently meaning the planned handover of the Chrysanthemum Throne. No new dates for the wedding or its preceding rituals were given.