Japanese Princess Mako, the niece of Emperor Naruhito, married her former university classmate today, Tuesday, after a years-long engagement. This marriage marks her entry into marital life but also her exit from the imperial family, as Japanese laws require female members to renounce their titles if they marry commoners.
Mako and Kei Komuro, both 30 years old, announced their engagement four years ago, which initially met with positive reception in Japan. However, the situation quickly deteriorated when tabloid newspapers reported on a financial scandal involving Komuro's mother, leading the press to turn against him. As a result, the wedding was postponed, and Komuro left Japan to study law in the United States in 2018, returning in September.
Mako suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder due to the troubles she faced during the engagement amid the scandal and intense media scrutiny. The wedding was limited to the completion of the necessary official paperwork, deviating from the traditional imperial wedding ceremonies, including the reception.
In an emotional farewell, Mako declined the 1.3 million dollars usually granted to female members of the imperial family who marry commoners and become ordinary citizens under Japanese law. She appeared in television footage wearing a simple light-colored dress and a pearl necklace, bidding farewell to her parents and her younger sister Kaka, aged 26, at the entrance of their home. Despite everyone wearing masks, in accordance with Japanese COVID-19 protocols, her mother could be seen fighting back tears.
In the afternoon, Mako and her new husband will hold a press conference, which will also deviate from tradition. While imperial family members typically answer pre-submitted questions at such events, the couple will instead make a brief statement and provide written responses to questions. Komuro, dressed in a dark suit and tie, briefly bowed to photographers outside his home as he left in the morning but did not say anything. His informal demeanor upon returning to Japan, including his long hair tied back in a ponytail, has been a topic of tabloid interest.
Japanese public opinion appears divided regarding the marriage. Analysts say the imperial family holds a prestigious status that makes some people unwilling to accept any blemish, such as a financial or political dispute. Hedia Kawanishi, an assistant history professor at Nagoya University, stated that the fact that Mako's father and younger brother, Hisahito, are in the line of succession after Emperor Naruhito—who has a daughter unqualified for succession—makes the scandal particularly damaging. She added, "Mako's younger brother will one day become emperor, so some believe that anyone with the problems Komuro faces shouldn't marry her."
The couple will live in New York, but Mako will stay in Tokyo alone for a while after the wedding to prepare for this move, including applying for her first passport.
