The Beginning Of Princess Mako's New Life In New York

Princess Mako (Source: Wikimedia Commons)

JAKARTA - The former princess of the Japanese Empire, Mako Komuro began to live a new life in the United States (US) with her newly married husband, Kei Komuro. What will Mako's new life be like in New York?

What is clear is that Mako no longer lives in the palace after giving up her royal title. Mako will live in a rented apartment in New York, just like the common people.

Mako is not the first actually. She became a member of the family that left the Japanese monarchy after Ayako Moriya in 2018.

Citing The Guardian, a recording broadcast on Japanese television channels shows Kei Komuro and Mako Komuro flanked by security personnel at John F Kennedy Airport, New York, USA. The two of them immediately got into the waiting vehicle.

Mako and her husband's move to the US has long been rumored. The two boarded a commercial flight on Sunday, November 14, 2021, from Tokyo to New York. In New York, Kei Komuro attended law school and worked in law.

The Story of Mako and Kei

Mako has long been in the attention of the Japanese public since her relationship with Kei Komuro. The two first met at a student gathering planning to go abroad in 2012. In September 2017, the couple announced their intention to marry in 2018.

Their relationship was clearly opposed by Japanese society. Within weeks of the wedding being set to take place in November 2018, the weekly magazine Shukan Josei ran a story claiming that Kei Komuro's mother had an argument with her ex-boyfriend over money.

Kei Komuro and Mako's relationship is increasingly controversial. The couple's wedding ceremony was postponed. Kei Komuro then moved to New York to study law at Fordham University. The couple reportedly kept in touch via the internet.

Excessive media coverage of the couple over the years caused Mako to suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder. This was conveyed directly by the Imperial Household Agency (IHA).

After finishing law school, Kei Komuro returns to Japan in September 2021 to fulfill his promise to marry Mako. Citing DW, Kei Komuro already has a job at a law firm in New York. But he has not passed the bar exam. Kei Komuro said he would continue to study and take the exam again in February 2022.

Video capture of Mako and Kei upon arrival at John F Kennedy Airport, USA (Source: Reuters)

Plans to continue the wedding ceremony were quietly dashed after media reports surfaced. The report narrates that Mako and Kei Komuro's marriage is the biggest threat to the stability of the imperial family. The report also discusses Kei Komuro's income, which is said to be insufficient to meet Mako's needs.

At a press event after the wedding ceremony, the newlyweds apologized for the trouble their marriage caused. They also expressed their gratitude to the people who still support them.

"To me, Kei is a very important and irreplaceable existence," said Mako.

"Mako and I want to build a warm and fun family," said Kei Komuro.

"Happy moments, unhappy times, we want to be together, and we will be indispensable to each other," added Kei Komuro.

Princess Mako and Princess Kako (Source: Wikimedia Commons)

Mako then left her residence in Tokyo to register her marriage. He bowed several times to his parents, Crown Prince Fumihito and Crown Princess Kiko. He also hugged his little sister, Princess Kako before leaving.

The wedding also sparked an unprecedented protest march in Tokyo. Most of the protestors consisted of conservatives and middle-aged people who resented the marriage. They held up the words "Stop the Cursed Marriage" and "No, Komuro."

The controversy surrounding the couple and their move to the US has many comparing them to the royal couple Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. The two decided to leave the royal family in early 2020.

Japanese Imperial Law

General public visit to the Imperial Palace of Japan (Source: Wikimedia Commons)

Under Japanese law, women in the Empire of Japan would lose their titles after marrying a commoner. Because obviously marrying a commoner, Mako's royal title is automatically removed.

It is known that Kei and Mako do not hold the usual royal wedding rituals. Mako also refused the payment offered after her departure from the kingdom.

Mako becomes the first female member of the royal family to reject these two important things. With such a small number of male aristocrats, there is some debate about changing the rules in imperial Japan.

Polls show the public broadly supports women being allowed to rule. But any change tends to be slow because of strong opposition from traditionalists.

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