Today, on October 23, Japanese Princess Mako, the eldest daughter of Crown Prince Akishino and Crown Princess Kiko, turned 30. The Princess will leave the Imperial Family upon her marriage with Kei Komuro next week. On the occasion of her last birthday as a member of the imperial household, the Imperial Household Agency released new photos of the Princess. The photos were taken on October 6 at Akasaka Estate in Tokyo.
Before her wedding, Princess Mako got together with the Emperor and the Empress for about an hour on Friday, and Princess Aiko later joined them. Mako is also scheduled to visit her grandparents, that is, former Emperor Akihito and former Empress Michiko on Monday.
No birthday celebration event for the Princess will take place due to the pandemic restrictions. Princess Mako will quit as president of the Japan Kogei Association and honorary president of the Japan Tennis Association on Tuesday. Princess Kako, her younger sister, will succeed her in the tennis association post.
Que je suis ravie de voir les deux charmantes princesses ensemble - Je n'avais jamais vu Mako aussi radieuse , très belle dans des teintes qui sortent du carcan officiel auquel elle est contrainte jusqu'à présent ; aussi, j'ai hâte d'être au 26 octobre afin de voir sa robe ou plutôt tenue de mariage - Félicitations à elle pour son anniversaire !
ReplyDeleteAw. I hope she has a wonderful life in the US and can be less prim - she's beautiful but often that really formal styling doesn't emphasize it. She deserves happiness.
ReplyDelete@Amy: I could not agree more!!
DeleteRare photos of Princess Mako actually smiling ! The autumn light and the colour of her top compliment her features beautifully. But Princess Kako's dress is a mistake I think, both in colour and shape. Her smile and hairdo make up for it though !
ReplyDeleteMaguy
Such a lovely lady it is so good to see her smile! One can only wish her all the best!
ReplyDeleteVery much so!
DeleteJosh
Mako is such a beautiful young woman! She is going to be such a great loss to the Imperial House (those archaic laws!!!). She looks lovely here--her outfit is perfect! The beautiful burgundy sweater is a wonderful color for Mako. When she's married and living in the US, I'd love to see her pair this same outfit with a pair of boots.
ReplyDeleteBest wishes to Mako for a long and happy marriage. The photos with her sister are stunning. Both princesses are beautiful.
ReplyDeleteVery happy for Princess Mako and her incoming wedding, wishing the bride and the groom a lifetime of happiness and love.
ReplyDeleteI'm curious. When they say leave the royal family, is it a total cut off? I mean will she be allowed to visit (in private or otherwise) from time to time? If she and her future husband have kids, will her parents be allowed to meet their grandchild in person?!
ReplyDeleteEuropa
I believe what that means is that she will not have any royal status nor perform any royal duties or benefit from any advantages or privileges that members with an Imperial Royal designation have. She is now a commoner. But since she is still a blood relative of the current and future Royal family, and a daughter and granddaughter and niece of them, she can still visit any of them as family but under the status of a commoner.
Delete- Anon 9:13
Perhaps a Japanese person could comment but no, Princess Mako won’t be shut off from her family, but life will be very different for her. She looks very happy. Young Prince Hisahito will have to have 15 sons at this rate to keep the Japanese Imperial family afloat.
ReplyDeleteElle
Former Empress Michiko has apparently expressed that she will miss her first grandchild. That breaks my heart. When fiancé, Kei Komuro, returned to Japan from New York after a three year absence, he was bombarded by media for sporting a ponytail. It is a small one, by the way. The media wonders "whether this is acceptable for a man about to marry a member of the Imperial family and what that says about Komuro’s current state of mind." My first thought was that she is barely a member of the Imperial Family. That ceases in a few short days. I wonder why they care. There is no support for the women of this family to remain in the family in any official capacity. I have so much respect for Mako for refusing the payout offered to royal women leaving the family.
ReplyDelete"The Imperial House Economy Law stipulates that a one-off state allowance will be provided to a member of the imperial family who leaves the family due to reasons including marriage, in order to maintain the dignity of a former member of the family.
The actual amount is decided by the Imperial House Economy Council, which is made up of the prime minister and seven others.
The government has been discussing the matter as no other former imperial family member has refused the payment in the past and there is no legal provision on such a case."
Approximately a $1.3M US payout to "to maintain the dignity of a former member of the family". Hmmm...
I hope she will be very happy with Kei in New York, create their own family, and live their lives by their own rules. Mako has a lot to offer and I can see her making a difference in the world in her own quiet way. ~d
Rejection invokes the strongest negative n most destructive emotions in a person.
ReplyDeleteFollowing the news n challenges of this beautiful couple, my thoughts are: if Princess Mako or Mr Kei is the precious child of one of the editors/ writers of the Japanese press, tabloids, would they still want to shame / hurt them n their families both domestically n internationally?
Well, few of us have blue blood nor enjoy perfect families. I would view the strive, tenacity and steadfast love for his princess of such an up n coming bright young Mr Kei Komuro as very commendable!
Here is wishing Mr Kei Komuro n Princess Mako God's blessings in their days ahead!
What beautiful pictures of her smiling. I wish her all the best in her new life. Hope she had a wonderful birthday.
ReplyDeleteChel
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