18 MARCH 2005

Despite having dropped out of at least one official engagement in recent weeks, it appears Crown Princess Masako will be attending the engagement ceremony of sister-in-law Princess Sayako on Saturday.

The Imperial Household has confirmed that Masako wishes to attend the ceremonial exchange of pre-wedding gifts, called Nosai no Gi, which is in honour of Sayako's betrothal to government employee Yoshiki Kuroda.

The private court affair, a formal sealing of the engagement, will see the groom's mother – his father is deceased – meet Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko. Though the empress skipped some of her official duties this week due to a fatigue-related skin virus, she is set to attend her only daughter's ceremony.

In late Feburary, it was the empress' daughter-in-law Masako who made headlines for health reasons. The 41-year-old, who has been struggling with emotional difficulties for over a year, cancelled a visit to Special Olympics Winter Games in Nagano at the last minute. The Imperial Household Agency confirmed that ill health was the reason for her cancellation, describing the royal's condition as "inappropriate" for attendance.

Masako has been recovering from an "adjustment disorder" brought on by the demands of her role, particularly the pressure to produce a male heir. Controversy over changing Imperial House Law in order to allow female members to ascend to the throne looks set to be resolved soon, however, as a government panel is expected to decide on the matter later this year.