On October 26, 2021, Japan's Princess Mako married her former college classmate Kei Komuro. Princess Mako held a press conference with Kei Komuro at the Grand Arc Hotel in Tokyo after formally leaving the Imperial family upon marriage. The niece of Emperor Naruhito forfeited her imperial status upon marrying a commoner and became Mako Komuro under his family registry.
Princess Mako departed her parents' residence at Akasaka Estate in Tokyo. Princess Mako was seen off by her parents Crown Prince Akishino and Crown Princess Kiko and sister Princess Kako. Mako and Kei Komuro will move into a Tokyo condominium and wait for Mako’s passport to be approved before they fly to New York, where Komuro is scheduled to practice law once he passes the bar exam.
Touching moments .....
ReplyDeleteM
I hope they have happiness and peace together
DeleteNot bad but always the same kind of colors and same style of dresses. The shoes are nice but not shoes that young woman wear in other countries. It is the kind of shoe an older lady wears when she cannot walk on court shoes anymore. The nobility and upper class in Japan apparently like this simplistic style of dressing.
ReplyDeleteI wish the couple a happy life in the U.S.
Carla
She will change her style very soon I think once in New York lol
DeleteIsn't it about time Japan welcoms the 21 century in? It's a shame to see how the femal royals are treated in 2021. These rules are archaic, but happy to see they finally got to get married. Wishing them love and happiness. Anna.
ReplyDeleteTotally agree, Anna!
DeleteI couldn't have said it better
DeleteAnna (Amsterdam)
Tout à fait d'accord, on leur souhaite. Cela a vraiment été long pour eux.
DeleteYou summed up my thoughts completely. Blessings on this young couple.
DeleteAbsolutely agreed. I hope they have happy lives in NY. It is such a shame everything they have endured just to get here.
DeleteChel
Females in general , and not only royal ones, are still discriminated in 2021, and its not a matter of Japan.
DeleteAnd probably, the institution of monarchy is archaic too.
DeleteIt’s time to abolish the monarchy.
This is not romantic love story at all. This is about the 30 years old spoiled woman abusing her privileged states with spending taxpayers money.
Their lavish lifestyle could cost taxpayers hundreds of millions every year. Still they call themself the victims of the system.
Dismiss the monarchy then everyone Marry whoever they want.
No more spoiled or sad princesses.
HAPPY END.
The whole story about Mako and her love is heartbreaking. One can only wish the very best to this lovely lady and her husband! May they be happy together in their new Home!
ReplyDeleteGood for her!! Congratulations and I wish her a wonderful life.
ReplyDeleteI am very happy Mako got to marry her boyfriend. I'm also very sad for Kako, she and her eldest sister are very close and it must be sad for her to see her sister settle in another country. I hope the sisters get to meet each other often.
ReplyDeleteMimi
yes getting to meet occasionally would be nice, but even unlikely IMV. No idea how easily members of the imperial family can travel abroad informally. I share most of the thoughts here above. I read they apologized for the trouble they caused.
Delete@MaryT, I really felt sad that Mako and Kei felt they had to apologise for all the incidents that occurred due to archaic rules that are still in place. They might be public representatives, but to go through such harassment, even when Mako declined the money and would have left the the Royal Family anyway, it was seemed pointless. But all's good that end's good I guess.
DeleteMimi
Congratulations and best wishes! I am so happy for them.
ReplyDeleteLili
Bismillahirrohmanirrohim, God Bless You. You are a good person. Best regard from bogor city🇮🇩 indonesia
ReplyDeleteIls forment vraiment un charmant petit couple à qui nous pouvons souhaiter beaucoup de bonheur dans leur nouvelle vie !
ReplyDeleteThe sisters' fond farewell in the seemingly expressionless presence of their parents is touching. I hope Princess Kako's spontaneous gesture opening her arms to embrace her sister who leaves home to get married will not earn her a scolding. Princess Kako has surely by become aware that the young man she falls in love with will be subject to relentless scrutiny by IHA and government officials. Both she and her future fiancé will have to have extraordinary patience and courage. For the meantime, we can only congratulate the newlyweds and wish them happiness in their new life together.
ReplyDeleteIt will be interesting to see if her fashion style changes once in New York and away from the pressures of the royal family - although I guess we won't be able to see that here on this site since she no longer officially part of the royal family.
ReplyDeleteI know every culture and peoples have their own unique customs and traditions - and I always try to have an open mind and be respectful of them. (I don't know if I always succeed, but I do try.) But this whole situation just seems so sad. I mean, wow, the newlyweds can't even stay at one of the royal estates while she's waiting on her passport. Jeepers. But who knows? Maybe she's doing the Snoopy happy dance behind closed doors and away from the cameras. But for me, the public persona of this is ***just soooo sad*** . Years ago before the current Empress married into the royal family I remember reading and hearing about how, behind closed doors, her family was so sad and upset about her impending marriage. Publicly they had to put on a happy, joyous, veneer but privately they were moving about as if preparing for a funeral. My younger self at that time didn't really believe it but my older self now is thinking, "Hmmm." But this site is about the fashion so let me stop. :-)
I like the shade (a soft mint green?) and texture of the fabric of her dress but I wish it was a little more fitted. Not "skin tight" but snitched in a bit more through the bodice and the waist.
Good luck you two crazy kids! And I hope he passes the New York bar.
Europa
About seeing her later : we still get news from Tessy of Luxemburg, although she is no longer member of the RF, so maybe there is a chance.
DeleteI'm so happy for Princess Mako and her husband and pray for their happiness and future, far away from the stifling imperial court. She married for love. They are a beautiful couple.
ReplyDeleteThese photos seem so sad with all the pain of parting and none of the joy you expect at a wedding. I read that even although Princess Mako has left the Imperial family there were demonstrations against the wedding in Japan today/ Such a shame. I hope this young couple have a happy and successful life together. They certainly deserve it.
ReplyDeleteVery well said, Annie M; it's sad how such a joyful event in one's life has become such a 'burden'
DeleteMCS
Father saying bye to his daughter is most painful. Unfortunately he can't express openly. Wish them all well.
ReplyDeleteFather saying bye to his daughter is very painful considering even how he had to support them for daily unkind pressure coming from all corners of Japan on these kids whose crime is they love one another. Why can't the world join hands to make every love works?
ReplyDeleteI also feel that not only is there no joy on what should have been a very joyful day (of marriage) but there is a sense of extreme sadness. I feel terrible about it.
ReplyDeleteI wonder how her mother feels...to be parted from her daughter in this way today. Her heart must be so broken.
I wish this brave young couple the very best in their new married life together.
I have another question. I remember some years ago that there was a young royal princess who was supposed to marry but never did. The wedding (or maybe the engagement) was continually being postponed due to some public pressure or other, and then the prospective groom eventually dropped out of the picture.
Which Japanese princess was that?
Was it Mako? or was it her sister? Or someone else?
I remember the prospective groom was another good looking guy but I don't think it was Kei Komuro. He looked different.
- Anon 9:13
It was princess Mako and the prospective groom was still Kei Komuro.
DeleteT
I have been following the story until now, good luck to the newly wed, may they find happiness in the journey that they have chosen
ReplyDeleteShe is no longer an official part of the royal family, but that doesn't mean she is now estranged from her family. She is not cast away, as they will still remain family and am sure will visit and stay in touch privately. Her sister's affectionate statement towards her and her new husband was very sweet and I am sure that in private her entire family has been affectionate and warm. The lack of a wedding was unfortunate, but here the press is to blame, as well as Japanese society and the conservatism of the royal family, which is why her sister's statement was so beautiful. I worry that they have become such an international point of interest that the press will hound them in the US. I can only imagine what the first photos of them enjoying their commoners' life in NYC will fetch. So, unfortunately, I think we will be able to see how her style changes away from the royal family.
ReplyDeleteLisa María Paris
Mako & Kei are so cute & so beautiful together. I always felt a pang of sadness for Mako & Kako as they were growing up. Wonder what will happen with Kako, let's see if the stifling life of being a Japanese princess continues to define her life. I'm sure there were lots of good-bye hugs & tears behind closed doors. Congratulations & all the best to the breakaway Mako & Kei. ~Laurel~
ReplyDeleteWe only can wish them all the happiness and a many years of love and health. It must be a bittersweet moment, as all of you mentioned before, a weeding is a special moment share with your love ones, but this one is so different from what we were use to see in royal weedings. Anyway, congratulations to new couple.
ReplyDeleteJ'espère que d'ici peu on pourra la voir avec une coupe moderne, un jean, des baskets et libérée !! elle est tellement jolie, elle mérite une vraie vie avec le mari aimant qu'elle a trouvé, qui, lui est moderne..... il est tout de même arrivé au Japon avec un catogan !!
ReplyDeleteI hope that the negative side of this situation will help bond this young couple much closer and deepen the love they have between them.
ReplyDeleteAll my wishes for a long and happy life together.
As another blogger pointed out, her dress needs a little more detail to the tailoring. Or maybe she has lost a bit of weight.
Off topic: is the USA becoming a 'new-found-land' for some members of the world's royals? e.g. England, Norway, Sweden, Japan and perhaps others.
The princess is FREE!!! I am so very, very, very happy for her and her new husband. He came to take her away from all that unhappiness and they can now start to build their life together! This is outstanding!!!
ReplyDelete=Annie=
Sad, all the way around. He parents do not hug her, just the sister. Not a happy look from either young ones. jj
ReplyDeleteBut let's not point the finger only at Japanese.
DeleteBritish protocole can be stiff and cold.
Maybe you are too young to remember the photo of Queen Elizabeth greeting the very young Prince Charles as he got off a train by shaking his hand. No emotion between mother and son.
However Princess Diana changed things with the many hugs she gave to her sons.
Princess Mako looks lovely; her suit is particularly attractive. The Japanese are truly a different kettle of fish when it comes to royalty and succession. It is all about loosing face; if you know the history of the second world war and how negotiations went ahead for the royal's to continue ruling. I wish Princess Mako and Kei all the best for the future; actually she is an asset for the family, I would think they might realise that.
ReplyDeleteSuch a bittersweet day instead of a joyously happy day. So sweet to see Princess Kako embrace her sister--they seem very close so all of this must have been hard for Kako too. I am so happy to see Mako and Kei married and getting ready to start their new and independent life together. All the best to the newlyweds for a life of love and happiness forever!
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