Princess Mako of Japan is set to marry her fiancé, a commoner named Kei Komuro, on October 26, relinquishing her status and government financial support for the women of the Japanese imperial family.
Princess Mako had no right to a fairy tale. The relationship between Emperor Naruhito’s niece and commoner Kei Komuro has been shrouded in controversy for several years and has been closely followed by the media.
The couple, who met while studying at the International Christian University in Tokyo in 2012, were originally engaged in 2017 and planned to get married in 2018. the ceremony was postponedallegedly due to the financial difficulties of the groom’s family.
Now that the ceremony is set for October 26, Princess Mako plans to relinquish her status, imperial marriage and financial support of 150 million yen (1.16 million euros) given to women of the Japanese imperial family, according to the New York Times. “.
After October 26, the couple plans to move to New York, USA, where Kamuro works as a lawyer. The princess, who has a master’s degree in art museums and galleries at the University of Leicester in the United Kingdom and who is currently pursuing her doctorate at Christian University International, has not announced plans, although there are speculations that she could find work in the art world of New York. art. For the past five years, Mako has worked at the University of Tokyo Museum.
Over-exposure of the relationship between the princess, whose father is Crown Prince Fumihito, and the Komuro family over the years resulted in Mako suffering from PTSD. But the princess is not the first member of the imperial family to suffer from hostile media attention. Empress Masako is currently struggling with a stressful illness that has arisen from the intense pressure to have a male child.
Fewer and fewer members of the Japanese imperial family
Japan’s centenary law strips female members of the empire who marry a commoner from royalty. No woman can sit on the Chrysanthemum Throne, which should be occupied by a man in the male line of succession. Currently, only the crown prince and his son can inherit the current emperor.
However, as the imperial family continues to shrink, leaving few potential heirs, some want to change this rule. Since March, a Japanese government group has discussed amendments to the laws on the succession of the empire. In July, the commission first proposed the inclusion of former royals and heiresses.
The princess will become the ninth woman in the Japanese imperial family to marry a commoner since World War II.
