Japanese Princess Mako marries and loses royal status | Japan

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Japan’s Princess Mako has lost her royal status after marrying her “common” college sweetheart, Kei Komuro – a man she called “irreplaceable” – while the couple expressed their grief over a scandal plaguing their engagement.

After years of criticism of their relationship that made Mako suffer from her mental health, the couple announced at a press conference at a hotel in Tokyo on Tuesday that they were married. They refused to answer reporters’ questions.

Mako and Komuro, who met at university nearly a decade ago, were due to marry in November 2018, but were postponed after Japanese media revealed that Komuro’s mother was involved in a minor financial scandal.

On Tuesday, Komuro expressed his regret that his mother’s problems had cast a shadow over the wedding preparations. He said of his bride, “I love Mako-san. I would like to spend my life with the person I love.”

He said he would do “everything in his power” to resolve the financial dispute between his mother and her ex-fiancé from whom she is said to have borrowed 4m yen (£25,387), despite allegations the money was a gift.

Extensive media coverage of his family and scrutiny of the couple’s relationship affected Mako, who is Emperor Naruhito’s niece. The Imperial Household Agency recently revealed that she suffers from complex PTSD.

Her health was reportedly behind the couple’s decision to make a statement on Tuesday and provide written answers to reporters’ questions rather than respond orally.

Demonstrations in Tokyo against the marriage of Princess Mako and Kei Komuro. Photo: Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

Mako said her decision to marry Komuro was a “necessary choice”. While she acknowledged that some members of the public are opposed to their union, she said they plan to spend their lives together “to cherish and protect our feelings.”

She added, “I was afraid and felt sadness and pain whenever the one-sided rumors turned into baseless stories.”

Referring to Mako’s case, Komuro said, “Incorrect information has been treated as if it were true, and I am very sad that Mako-san has problems with her physical and mental health as a result of the defamatory remarks.”

The couple did not have a formal wedding ceremony, reception banquet, or any of the traditional rites associated with imperial weddings. They themselves have paid for the venue for the press conference, amid accusations on social media of not “wasting” taxpayers’ money.

Her father, Crown Prince Akishino, reportedly opposed a traditional royal wedding after admitting that the Japanese public was divided over their marriage in light of reports that Komuro’s mother had failed to repay the loan, some of which went on to educate her son.

In a Yomiuri survey, more than half of respondents were positive about marriage and a third were not.

There were signs of goodwill among some Tokyo residents. “The most important thing is that she is happy,” said Machiko Yoshimoto, in her 60s. “It would have been better if we had a festive atmosphere rather than this difficult situation, which is somewhat sad and unfortunate,” said Shigeru Hashimoto, 54.

Mako, who has a master’s degree from the University of Leicester, rejected a payment of 140 million yen ($1.23 million) in taxpayer money traditionally given to women who give up their royal status when they marry.

Mako bows to her father, Crown Prince Akishino, before leaving her home in Tokyo. Photo: Japan Pool / EPA

Television footage showed Mako leaving her family’s home, the imperial residence in Akasaka, on Tuesday morning. Wearing a pale blue dress, holding a flower bouquet, she bowed to her parents and embraced her younger sister Kaku.

The laws of succession in Japan mean that Mako cannot be the reigning empress. If she had a son, he would be raised as a non-royal and would not ascend to the Chrysanthemum Throne.

Her exit from the palace highlighted the paucity of heirs to the throne, while pressure to reform succession laws failed to gain traction under successive conservative governments. Mako’s father is first in line, followed by her younger brother, Prince Hisahito. If Hisahito does not have a male child, the line of succession will be broken.

Experts said that her father and brother’s key positions in the imperial line aroused public opposition to her marriage to Komuro. “Although that is true [Mako and Komuro] “They will both be ordinary citizens, Mako’s younger brother will one day become emperor, so some thought that anyone with Komuro’s problems shouldn’t marry her,” said Hidea Kawaanishi, associate professor of history at Nagoya University.

The couple inevitably called for comparisons to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle due to the media attack and their decision to move to the United States. They plan to move to New York where Komuro works for a law firm.

They haven’t met each other for three years until Komuro’s recent return from New York, and they will be separated again while Mako remains in Japan to prepare for the move and apply for her first passport.

It is not clear if Mako, who studied art and cultural heritage at the International Christian University in Tokyo, will be working in the United States. In her statement, she only said that she wanted to “live a peaceful life in a new environment.”

Agencies contributed to this report.

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