Former Princess Mako of Japan has welcomed her first baby after leaving the Japanese Royal Family in 2021 and marrying her former college classmate and commoner, Kei Komuro. Mako Komuro, 33, was required to give up her royal status by law and, after her marriage, moved to New York, where her husband works as a lawyer.
Over the years, there have been many comparisons to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle who also turned their backs on royal duties in 2020.
The Imperial Household Agency announced at a press conference that both mother and child are in good health, although neither the newborn’s name nor gender has been revealed. Paparazzi photos published by a Japanese paper showed the couple pushing a stroller in a suburb of Manhattan.
As reported in the Japan Times, grand master Naomasa Yoshida said: “This is a matter for a person who has left the Imperial Family, and we had hoped that she would spend her time in a quiet environment. We decided to make the announcement, however, in light of some media reports (about the birth).”
Fumihito, Crown Prince Akishino and Crown Princess Kiko, Mako’s parents, are said to be delighted at the news and wished the family the greatest happiness.
Former Princess Mako and Kei Komuro’s wedding ceremony in 2021 was met with protests, and was held behind closed doors without any of the pomp and pageantry of other Japanese royal weddings.
Mako defended her decision to marry, describing Kei as “irreplaceable” and saying “our marriage is a necessary step for us to be able to protect our hearts”.
In a pre-prepared statement, Kei apologised for any distress caused but said that he loved Mako and would support her throughout their life together.
Reports state Mako and Komuro met at Tokyo’s International Christian University in 2013 and became engaged in secret, before announcing their intention to marry in September 2017.
Upon the announcements of their upcoming wedding, the Japan royal household said Mako would forgo all traditional ceremonies and surrender a £1million payment she was entitled to according to Japanese tradition.
She became the first imperial family member since World War II to not receive the payment while marrying a commoner.
Mako has a degree in art and cultural heritage from Japan’s International Christian University, where she met her husband.
She went on to study art history at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland before receiving her master’s in art museum and gallery studies from the University of Leicester in England.
Kei is a graduate of Fordham University Law School and reportedly has a job at a New York law firm. Under Japanese law, female members of the imperial family lose their royal status upon marriage to a commoner but men do not.
