Her engagement to Yoshiki Kuroda is formally announced.

The Imperial Household Agency on Thursday announced the long-awaited engagement of Princess Sayako to Yoshiki Kuroda, bringing some respite to a year filled with natural disasters.

Sayako, 35, is the only daughter of Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko.

Her future husband works for the Tokyo metropolitan government and is a long-time friend of Prince Fumihito, the second son of the emperor and empress. Kuroda, 39, has known the princess since she was a child.

In announcing the engagement, Toshio Yuasa, grand steward of the Imperial Household Agency, said the wedding will take place after next summer.

At a joint news conference at the Imperial Household Agency following the announcement, the couple were reserved and soft-spoken.

It was the first time the two have appeared together in public.

Sayako explained her concern about making a formal announcement at the end of a year marked by so much tragedy caused by natural disasters.

``It pains me to have the announcement made during such a period, but after consulting with many people we decided to make the announcement before the end of the year because it has already been postponed twice,'' Sayako said. ``I am grateful and also feel apologetic for all the messages of congratulations that have been extended to us since Nov. 14.''

The Asahi Shimbun broke the news of Sayako's impending engagement on that date.

The official announcement of their engagement was originally scheduled for early November, but it was postponed out of consideration for victims of the Oct. 23 Niigata Chuetsu Earthquake.

An announcement scheduled for Dec. 18 was also postponed because of the death of Princess Kikuko, aunt of Emperor Akihito.

Sayako also paid tribute to her parents as well as Kuroda's mother, Sumiko, for their support.

Kuroda added, ``Right now, I am full of feelings of gratitude.''

The two explained that they became reacquainted at a gathering hosted by Prince Fumihito in January 2003 at his Tokyo residence. They began seeing each other regularly, nearly always at the prince's residence, and gradually began talking about marriage.

Kuroda said he proposed to Sayako in January 2004 while they were having tea at Fumihito's residence.

``We are encouraged by the fact that the announcement was made after the young couple decided to share their future lives together,'' Yuasa quoted Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko as saying.

Politicians also were quick to offer their congratulations.

``I feel a welling up of hope for the future,'' said Liberal Democratic Party Secretary-General Tsutomu Takebe. ``I pray that they will build up a family that is forever happy.''

Opposition Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) head Katsuya Okada said, ``I pray that with this good news as the catalyst, the new year will become a better one for all.''

Earlier Thursday, Kuroda, accompanied by Hideomi Tezuka, vice grand chamberlain to the emperor, visited the Imperial Palace to pay his respects to his future in-laws.

Afterward, Sayako and Kuroda had lunch at the Imperial Palace.

More ceremonies await the couple before their wedding day, which is set to be held after the summer.

Among scheduled events are the equivalent of the exchange of betrothal gifts as well as a ceremony to formally announce the date of the wedding.

Under the Imperial House Law, Sayako will lose her royal title when she marries.

Both Sayako and Kuroda are graduates of Gakushuin University.

Sayako was born on April 18, 1969, the third child of Emperor Akihito, then the crown prince. She is the only daughter of the imperial couple.

After graduating from Gakushuin, where she majored in Japanese language and literature, she joined the Yamashina Institute for Ornithology in Abiko, Chiba Prefecture, where she works as a researcher on a part-time basis. She has long been an avid bird watcher.

The princess is also known for her support for social welfare programs, including the training of guide dogs.

Kuroda worked for nine years at the former Mitsui Bank before joining the Tokyo metropolitan government in 1997. He now works in the city planning bureau.(IHT/Asahi: December 31,2004)