Marco, 30, the eldest daughter of Crown Prince Fumihito and the daughter-in-law of Emperor Naruhito, relinquished all her privileges, royal duties, and official positions within the family by marrying Kai Komuro the previous day (26/10/2021). This royal family is always under great pressure to conform to tradition and to adhere to strict standards of conduct. Every move of the royal family is always scrutinized. So this wedding has created a big shock in Japan. The princess, a graduate of the University of Leicester and an official at the Coventry Museum, could not help but say that the move was dramatic!
Mako was born on October 23, 1991, the eldest child of Prince Fumihito and his wife, Princess Kiko. Fumihito and Kiko, like Mako and Komuro, fell in love and got married in college. The birth of the first grandson of then-Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko, despite the fact that they could not legally inherit the throne, attracted much media attention. Japanese ascension laws prohibit women from ascending to the throne (the throne of the Japanese emperors) and forcing them to relinquish their privileges if they marry ordinary people.
Following Mako’s birth, Father Fumihito proudly told reporters: ‘She is beautiful. She is like me. ‘ Three years later, Mako’s sister, Kako, was born. Hisahito was born in 2006 to their brother. Hisahito was the first male citizen born into an imperial family after 1965. The Imperial Law of 1947 stipulates that only men in the family can ascend the throne. So while Emperor Naruhito has a 19-year-old daughter, Iko, his brother Fumihito is preferred to be crowned.
Similarly, their brother Hisahito (15) will be considered the crown prince, surpassing Crown Prince Fumihito’s daughters Mako and Kako (26). Apart from these, there is only one other man in the royal family at present. It was the emperor’s 85-year-old uncle, Prince Hitachi. He is entitled to the throne under the existing laws.
Hisahito, the prince, will lose his inheritance if he does not have a son in the future. There is some discussion going on right now about changing the rules. Polls show that the Japanese public broadly supports allowing women to rule. Although conservatives strongly oppose the idea, the fact remains that Japan had eight emperors before it.
Mako initially followed the royal tradition and attended the Elite Gakushuin School until the end of his high school years. However, instead of continuing at the institution for her university studies, she broke with tradition and wanted to join the International Christian University in Tokyo. She met Komuro in 2012 at a meeting of students planning to go abroad. Raised by his mother alone, Komuro’s early life was full of hardships. In the early days, he made a living by working for tourism promotion near Tokyo and earning money.
Mako spent a year studying at the University of Edinburgh. He is also reported to have studied in Dublin for some time. She graduated from the University of Leicester in 2014 with a degree in Art Museum and Gallery Studies. As part of her graduation program, Princess Mako completed her work at the Coventry Museum and research based on the collections at the New Walk Museum in Leicester. Speaking to the media towards the end of her postgraduate studies, Princess Mako said that her time at the University of Leicester was an amazing experience.
Head of the School of Museum Studies, Dr. Suzanne McLeod said at the time: ” We have a strong connection with the cultural profession in Japan, and many students from our school have graduated to take positions in museums and galleries there. Mako should come and follow her interests with us. She loves to teach. We are proud of her achievements in working incredibly hard. “
Mako and Komuro were secretly engaged in September 2017. It was later announced in November 2018 that the couple would be getting married. This was followed by many controversies. Tabloids had reported a financial dispute between Komuro’s mother and Mako’s ex-fianc. The man alleged that the mother and son failed to repay the debt of about $ 35,000. Some reports say that part of Komuro’s education was provided by his fiance, Mako. Comoro later said the money was a gift, not a debt. But in 2021 he submitted a 24-page explanation and later said he could settle the monetary dispute.
In September 2018, Komuro went to study at Fordham University in New York. After graduating from law school, he joined the New York law firm and did not return home until September of this year. The results of the bar exam written in July will come in December.
Meanwhile, Mako was beginning to assume a higher position within the royal family. In 2019, Macau’s uncle Chrysanthemum marched through the Imperial Palace in Tokyo to mark the formal ascension to the throne. At that time, they attended in traditional Junihito attire. Mako had also taken over official interventions previously attended by their parents, including an official visit to South America in July of that year.
But now Mako will give it all up to start a new life together in New York. They will also give up royal money. Palace officials also said that Mako had rejected the 140 million yen ($ 1.23 million) dowry he was entitled to when he left the imperial family. Mako was the first member of the imperial family to receive no money when he married a commoner after World War II. It is said that this was prompted by the high level of criticism against her for marrying a man whom some considered unworthy of a princess. The royal family had previously revealed that Mako had been sexually abused (PTSD). There are reports that this may be the reason.
Mako spoke about his marriage decision the other day after reading a written statement. In it, Mako described Komuro as “irreplaceable” and added that “our marriage is an essential step in being able to protect our hearts.” She also criticized news reports written during her engagement that she had spread false information and ‘unilateral rumors’. She revealed that it made her ‘sad and in pain’.
Komuro said he loves Mako and will support her throughout their lives. ” I like Mako. We only have one life and I want to spend it with someone we love, ”he said. “I am saddened that Mako is in a bad mental and physical condition due to the false allegations,” Komuro added.
The couple did not answer questions from the media. It was taking into account Mako’s mood. But they had provided a note of written responses to five pre-selected questions. When asked by a journalist about Mako’s current condition, Mako replied, “Not good.”
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