Princess Sayako (Photo: Xinhua/AFP)

    TOKYO, Oct. 5 (Xinhuanet) -- Princess Sayako, the only daughter of Japan's Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko, on Wednesday underwent one of the traditional rites leading up to her marriage.

    Meanwhile, the Imperial Palace formally set the date of her marriage to Tokyo metropolitan government employee Yoshiki Kuroda.

    The government announced in May that their wedding ceremony and reception will take place on Nov.15.

    In the ceremony, Naoyuki Kuroda, 54, a cousin of the would-be groom, visited the emperor's Omote Gozasho office as the groom's messenger and told Grand Steward Shingo Haketa of the date of the wedding for the 36-year-old princess, according to Kyodo News.

    Haketa who heads the Imperial Household Agency immediately conveyed the message to the emperor and empress as well as the princess.

    Haketa then conveyed to the messenger the emperor's consent to the date.

    The princess will have to relinquish her royal title following her marriage to Kuroda, a 40-year-old commoner, in accordance with the Imperial House Law.

    The wedding ceremony and reception will take place at the Imperial Hotel, a private company, in Tokyo in the presence of the emperor and empress.

    It will be the first time in 45 years that a female member of the immediate family of a reigning emperor weds. Enditem