Japan’s Princess Mako Is Officially Married To A Commoner After Years Of Controversy

Japan’s Princess Mako has announced her marriage to Kei Komuro, a commoner. After being officially betrothed to the man, Princess Mako would lose her position as a royal family.

Princess Mako and Kei Komuro, both 30 years old, had their legal paperwork to register their marriage submitted earlier in the day before the press conference.

Kei Komuro, who’s based in New York, is a graduate with a Juris Doctor degree earlier this year in May with a job at a law firm. The couple is planning to move to New York. The pair has had received many criticisms, in particular of the man’s appearance, comparable to British royals Meghan Markle and Prince Harry.

Komuro was most recently criticized when he returned to the country with a ponytail.

Media outlets portrayed that the man’s appearance was unbecoming of his standing as the future partner of Princess Mako. Many Japanese were against the Princess’ choice of husband, taking it as far as leading a protest on the matter.

The couple announced their union to the public at a Tokyo hotel at 2 PM JPT. Princess Mako spoke, “I am very sorry for the inconvenience caused, and I am grateful for those… who have continued to support me. For me, Kei is irreplaceable – marriage was a necessary choice for us.”

Mako’s husband, Komuro, continued, “I love Mako. We only get one life, and I want us to spend it with the one we love. I feel very sad that Mako has been in bad condition, mentally and physically, because of the false accusations.”

Princess Mako would be letting go of her royal family status and will have to apply for a passport as an ordinary citizen as Royal Imperial family members do not have them.

The couple first met in 2012, 9 years ago, at International Christian University in Tokyo.

They got unofficially engaged five years later, in September 2017.

According to the government, Princess Mako has also refused an offer of ¥150 million ($1.3 million) to proceed with the marriage with her college sweetheart. She is also denouncing her royal title per the current Imperial Family rules. NHK News reported that Japan’s government had approved the Princess’ request.

Princess Mako is the niece of Emperor Naruhito. Her father, Crown Prince Akishino, has also shown favor for his daughter’s choice.

The marriage was postponed for two years as there was an internal dispute in Komuro’s family that involves 4 million yen according to the Imperial Household Agency‘s report.

Japan Times reported Akishino’s approval of the marriage, “I mean, I approve of them getting married. The Constitution says marriage shall be based only on the mutual consent of both sexes. If that is what they really want, then I think that is something I need to respect as a parent.”

She also won’t be holding any traditional celebration and will be the first one post-war that gets married without it.

Their press conference on their marriage is recorded below.