Japan’s Princess Mako gave up her royal status Tuesday after marrying college sweetheart Kei Komuro, a commoner.
There was no wedding celebration or ceremony, and many in Japan opposed the marriage. However, the marriage was three years in the making, and the couple will start their new life together in New York, they announced in a news conference.
“For me, Kei-san is a priceless person. For us, our marriage was a necessary choice to live while cherishing our hearts,” Mako said in the news conference, according to the Associated Press.
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Mako and Komuro, both 30, met at Tokyo’s International Christian University and announced in 2017 that they intended to marry. However, they postponed the wedding because of a financial dispute between Komuro and his mother.
“I love Mako. I live only once, and I want to spend it with someone I love,” Komuro said Tuesday. “I hope to have a warm family with Mako-san, and I will continue to do everything to support her.”
The former princess has taken her husband’s surname — the only family name she has ever had. She also rejected a $1.23 million payment for leaving the imperial family, citing criticism of the marriage as her reason. She is the first person since World War II to reject the money.
Komuro returned to Japan last month after spending three years studying law in New York. Mako will join Komuro in New York permanently.
“There will be different kinds of difficulties as we start our new life, but we’ll walk together as we have done so in the past,” Mako said.
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Mako is the niece of Emperor Naruhito and the daughter of Crown Prince Akishino and Crown Princess Kiko. Mako also leaves behind a brother and a sister.
Because of a “males-only” line of succession, only Crown Prince Akishino and his son Prince Hisahito are in line to succeed the emperor. However, government-appointed experts are discussing a more “stable” succession system.
