Giving up imperial privileges, Japanese Princess Mako marries "Habib Al-Heart" (photos)
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Tokyo - Reuters
Japan's Princess Mako, the niece of Emperor Naruhito, married a former classmate on Tuesday after a years-long betrothal, entering the wedlock but graduating from the imperial family under laws that require females to give up their titles if they marry commoners.
Mako and Kei Komuro, both 30, announced their engagement four years ago, a move that was initially well received in Japan.
But things quickly turned upside down after tabloids reported a financial scandal involving Komuro's mother, prompting the press to turn against him.
The marriage was postponed as a result, and Komuro left Japan to study law in the United States in 2018, before returning in September.
Mako suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) due to the trouble she experienced during the engagement period due to the scandal and the intense media scrutiny of her engagement.
The wedding was limited to completing the official papers required for marriage to move away from the usual ceremonies of imperial weddings, including the reception.
Mako declined to receive the $1.3 million normally obtained for one-time women of the imperial family who marry commoners and become ordinary citizens under Japanese law.
Mako appeared in television footage, wearing a simple light-colored dress and a pearl necklace, as she bid farewell to her parents and her 26-year-old sister Kaku at the entrance to their house.
Although they were all wearing masks in keeping with Japan's coronavirus protocol, her mother could be seen fighting back tears.
In the afternoon, Mako and her new husband will hold a press conference, which will also be out of the ordinary.
While members of the imperial family usually answer questions submitted in advance on such occasions, the spouses will make a brief statement and provide written responses to questions instead.
Wearing a dark jacket and tie, Komuro briefly bowed to photographers who had gathered outside his home as he left in the morning but said nothing.
His casual demeanor upon his return to Japan, including his long hair in a ponytail, became the talk of the tabloids.
Opinion polls show the Japanese are divided on marriage.
Analysts say that the imperial family enjoys such high status that some people do not accept any blemishes such as financial or political conflict.
Hidea Kawanishi, associate professor of history at Nagoya University, said the fact that Mako's father and younger brother, Hisahito, are in line to the throne after Emperor Naruhito, who has a daughter ineligible to succeed him, makes the scandal so devastating.
"Mako's younger brother will one day become emperor, so some are of the opinion that anyone with problems (Komuro) should not marry her," she added.
The couple will live in New York, but Mako will be alone in Tokyo for some time after the wedding to prepare for the move, including by applying for the first passport of her life.
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