In recent days a video of the former princess of Japan has gone viral on Mako, supposedly sending her family away after marrying a commoner. And we ask: why was this a key moment in the recent history of the Imperial House?
In 2021, Akishino’s Mako married her mutual lawyer boyfriend Kei Komuro, and resigned from the imperial house. The news was a boom media that for years have dominated the newspapers and portals of both Easterners and Westerners.
Mako is the granddaughter of the current Emperor of Japan, Naruhito and, also, sister of Prince Hisahito, second in order of succession. Kei is only known to be married to the former princess. He was unknown until he met Mako at university.
They fell in love in 2012, in the classrooms of Tokyo Christian University, where Mako studied Art and Heritage (she later specialized in Art History at the University of Edinburgh and obtained a master’s degree in museum and art gallery studies in Leicester ).
Persecuted by the press
They dated until 2018, when they announced their engagement in a press conference. From then on their life became difficult due to the incessant siege of the press and public opinion, which was unfavorable to the couple.
Many people considered Komuro a “lifer”. They frowned upon a descendant of the emperor having an affair with a commoner who was the son of a single father.
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By marrying a commoner, Mako renounced her country’s kingship and went to live in the United States.
From the media’s insistence on revealing the couple’s privacy, a story arose that complicated their marriage: a Japanese media outlet revealed that Komuro’s mother allegedly owed her ex-boyfriend $36,000.
The scandal would have delayed the wedding for three years (they denied it). In dialogue with the press, Komuro explained that her mother had believed that the money had been a gift and she said that she would take care of the debt.
Because of everything she was experiencing, the princess’s psychiatrist confirmed this Mako suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder. The princess “feels pessimistic and finds it difficult to feel happy due to the persistent fear that her life will be destroyed,” the media specialist from the Imperial Household Agency told the media.
Princess Mako got engaged to Kei in 2018. Photo: REUTERSResignation from the imperial house
The couple got married on October 26, 2021. At 10 a.m. Mako and Kei went to a neighborhood agency, signed the documents, and the princess was officially separated from the imperial family.
By law of the Japanese Imperial House, Mako gave up a major collection of jewels, the million dollars that belonged to him as belonging to the Empire and the palace.
It is worth clarifying that, being the emperor’s granddaughter and due to the law of male succession, Mako was not in line of succession to the throne. Furthermore, according to the law, If royal women marry a commoner they must renounce their titles and leave the palace.
Kei Komuro interviewed in Tokyo, 2017. Photo: APConsulted by Clarín, the Japanese embassy in Argentina specified that, since “Mrs. Mako Komuro is already a Japanese citizen like all the others after leaving the imperial family, as the Government of Japan we are not able to comment on her decision.” and current marital status.
How is your life today?
The former princess is currently 32 years old and lives as an older girl in Hell’s Kitchen, New York. She lives with her husband in a house for which they pay 4 thousand euros a month.
Kei and Mako go shopping like anyone else without needing private security (however, six bodyguards moved to the United States when they did).
After graduating from Fordham University in New York with a law degree, he began working at the New Jersey law firm. Lowenstein Sandler.
Mako and Kei met at university. Photo: REUTERSHe holds a master’s degree in museum and gallery studies and is still trying to finish his doctorate.
In New York she worked as a volunteer at the famous Metropolitan Museum preparing an exhibition of paintings inspired by the life of a 13th century monk who traveled through Japan to introduce Buddhism.
People take part in a march to protest the wedding of Japanese Princess Mako and Kei Komuro in Tokyo on October 26, 2021. Photo: AFPEven though tranquility has entered their lives, every now and then they still discover some paparazzi interested in knowing what their daily life is like…
Source: Clarin
Mary Ortiz is a seasoned journalist with a passion for world events. As a writer for News Rebeat, she brings a fresh perspective to the latest global happenings and provides in-depth coverage that offers a deeper understanding of the world around us.