Mako Komuro (original) (raw)

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Former Japanese princess (born 1991)

Mako Komuro
Mako in 2020
Born Princess Mako of Akishino (眞子内親王) (1991-10-23) 23 October 1991 (age 33)Imperial Household Agency Hospital, Tokyo Imperial Palace, Japan
Occupation Researcher at The University Museum, The University of Tokyo (formerly)
Spouse Kei Komuro ​(m. )​
Parents Fumihito, Crown Prince of Japan (father)Kiko Kawashima (mother)
Relatives Imperial House of Japan

Mako Komuro (小室 眞子, Komuro Mako, born 23 October 1991), formerly Princess Mako of Akishino[1][2] (眞子内親王, Mako Naishinnō), is a Japanese art historian and former member of the Japanese imperial family. She is the eldest child of Crown Prince Fumihito and Crown Princess Kiko, niece of Emperor Naruhito, and granddaughter of Emperor Emeritus Akihito and Empress Emerita Michiko. After marrying outside the imperial family in October 2021, she gave up her title as required by the Imperial Household Law.

Early life and education

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Mako with her parents and sister (c. 2000)

Mako Komuro was born Princess Mako of Akishino on 23 October 1991 to Fumihito, Prince Akishino, and Kiko, Princess Akishino, at Imperial Household Agency Hospital in Tokyo Imperial Palace, Chiyoda, Tokyo. She has a younger sister, Princess Kako, and a younger brother, Prince Hisahito. Mako was educated at the Gakushūin School in her Primary, Girls' Junior and Senior High School years. She studied English at University College, Dublin (UCD), in July–August 2010.[3] She had an informal talk with the President of Ireland, Mary McAleese, and she visited Northern Ireland.[4]

The Princess graduated from the International Christian University in Mitaka, Tokyo, on 26 March 2014 with a bachelor's degree in Art and Cultural Heritage.[5] She obtained Japanese national certification in curation as well as a driver's license while she was an undergraduate student.[6][7] She later studied art history at the University of Edinburgh for nine months, from September 2012 to May 2013.[8][9][10][11] On 17 September 2014, she left for the United Kingdom where she studied at the University of Leicester for a year,[12] receiving an MA degree in Art Museum and Gallery Studies on 21 January 2016.[13][14] In September 2016, she enrolled in the doctoral course of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, International Christian University.[5]

Lady Banks' rose, Rosa banksiae, designated imperial personal emblem of Mako

Mako has been considered by some to be an internet idol since 2004, when images of her in sailor fuku appeared on television. An image repository was set up, and a video featuring fanart of Komuro was uploaded onto the popular video-sharing website Nico Nico Douga, attracting over 340,000 views and 86,000 comments. The Imperial Household Agency, responding to a request for comment, stated that they were not sure how they should handle this phenomenon, since they saw no signs of slander or insults against the Imperial Family.[15]

In 2011, Princess Mako came of age and was conferred Grand Cordon of the Order of the Precious Crown on 23 October. Since then, she began attending official events as an adult member of the Imperial Family.[16] She gave her patronage to a number of organizations, including the Japan Tennis Association and the Japan Kōgei Association.[5]

In October 2021, she formally lost her title upon marriage as required by Imperial Household Law.[17]

Mako meeting El Salvadoran president Salvador Sánchez Cerén in 2015

In August 2006, Mako visited Vienna, Austria for two weeks on a school-sponsored homestay program. She stayed in the home of an Austrian citizen who was a colleague of Tatsuhiko Kawashima, her maternal grandfather. Because Mako is interested in art and architecture, she visited the museums, St. Stephen's Cathedral and Schönbrunn Palace.[24][25]

In July 2011, she worked as a volunteer in the affected areas of the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami without revealing her identity.[26]

She became a project researcher at The University Museum, The University of Tokyo on 1 April 2016.[27]

In April 2022, it was reported that she was working as an unpaid volunteer at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, assisting curators within the museum's Asian art collection.[28]

Kei Komuro at the press conference held for the couple's engagement announcement, 3 September 2017

In May 2017, it was announced that the Princess was expected to marry Kei Komuro.[29] The two, both students at International Christian University (ICU), had met at a study abroad event in Tokyo. Komuro proposed to the Princess in December 2013.[30]

The wedding was originally expected to take place in November 2018,[31] but it was postponed after media reports of Komuro's mother in dispute with her former fiancé over ¥4 million ($36,000). Some of the money had been used to pay Komuro's tuition fees, and the dispute resulted in the public's disapproval of the match.[32][33] Komuro stated that his mother believed the money was a gift and added that he wished to pay it back.[17] Princess Mako blamed the postponement on the couple's immaturity at that time.[30]

On 26 October 2021, Princess Mako officially married Komuro following the submission of their marriage document at the local ward office.[34][35] Like her paternal aunt, Sayako, Princess Nori, and other princesses who married commoners in recent decades, she formally lost her title and became a commoner upon marriage as required by Imperial Household Law.[17] In light of criticism of her marriage, she refused the Japanese government's taxpayer funded payment of ¥140 million (US$1.3 million) given to royal women upon leaving the Imperial Family.[36] She is the first female member of the imperial family to forgo an official wedding ceremony and a gift of money from the government.[37]

By law, royals who give up their titles are not allowed to live inside the imperial quarters with their families.[38] For this reason, Mako moved to her own residence in the Shibuya district in Tokyo while awaiting her passport issuance and US Visa. Komuro paid his mother's ex an undisclosed sum of money to resolve the debt with his mother in November 2021.[39] The couple departed for New York that same month.[40]

Kei Komuro began studying at Fordham University School of Law in August 2018 and graduated with a Juris Doctor in May 2021.[41][42] He later joined Lowenstein Sandler, a law firm in New York as a law clerk.[33][42] He passed New York's bar exam in October 2022 and began working as a lawyer in 2023.[43]

Weeks before her planned wedding, the Imperial Household Agency announced on behalf of Princess Mako that she had recently been diagnosed with complex post-traumatic stress disorder (C-PTSD) by the head of the quality assurance room of the NTT Tokyo Medical Center.[44] The diagnosis determined that the C-PTSD originated during her primary high school years and continued due to strong criticism from imperial family members and the media.[45][33][46]

Titles, styles, and honours

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Mako was styled as Her Imperial Highness Princess Mako[5] until her marriage on 26 October 2021, after which she became known as Mrs. Kei Komuro.[47][48]

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  2. ^ "Number of Imperial Telegrams (1991)". The Imperial Household Agency. Archived from the original on 30 October 2021. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
  3. ^ "Japanese royal to spend time in Dublin studying English". The Irish Times. 18 June 2010. Archived from the original on 20 April 2016. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
  4. ^ "「眞子さま、アイルランドから帰国 」". The Nikkei (in Japanese). 15 August 2010. Archived from the original on 10 May 2017. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
  5. ^ a b c d "Their Imperial Highnesses Crown Prince and Crown Princess Akishino and their family". The Imperial Household Agency. Archived from the original on 26 October 2021. Retrieved 26 October 2021.
  6. ^ "「眞子さま、国際基督教大学をご卒業 「感謝しています」 」". Sankei Shimbun (in Japanese). 26 March 2014. Archived from the original on 9 July 2020. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
  7. ^ 「〈眞子さま〉国際基督教大学を卒業「一生の思い出の4年間」 Mainichi Shimbun 26 March 2014
  8. ^ "Japan's Princess Mako to study at Edinburgh University". deadlinenews.co.uk. 5 June 2012. Archived from the original on 29 February 2016. Retrieved 18 September 2013.
  9. ^ "Princess Mako describes life at British university as 'fruitful' - The Japan Times". The Japan Times. 29 May 2013. Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 18 September 2013.
  10. ^ "Hosting royalty". ed.ac.uk. 4 June 2013. Archived from the original on 27 March 2014.
  11. ^ "眞子さまが9月に英国ご留学". MSN Sankei News (in Japanese). Sankei Shimbun. 3 August 2012. Archived from the original on 19 December 2012. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
  12. ^ "Princess Mako leaves for one year of study in England ‹ Japan Today: Japan News and Discussion". japantoday.com. 17 September 2014. Archived from the original on 7 October 2014. Retrieved 6 October 2014.
  13. ^ Press-release: Japanese Princess to attend University of Leicester graduation ceremony Archived 26 September 2021 at the Wayback Machine - website University of Leicester
  14. ^ "Japanese Princess attends graduation ceremony". Archived from the original on 28 January 2016. Retrieved 22 January 2016.
  15. ^ "ネットで大人気「眞子様萌え」！ 宮内庁は困惑気味？" [Popular on the net, "Mako-sama Moe"! Is the Imperial Household Agency confused ?]. Yahoo! Netallica (in Japanese). 15 June 2008. Archived from the original on 18 June 2008.
  16. ^ "Japan's Princess Mako turns 20 and becomes newest adult member of Imperial Family". Telegraph.co.uk. 24 October 2011. Archived from the original on 10 October 2018. Retrieved 4 April 2018.
  17. ^ a b c Ogura, Junko; Gan, Nectar (26 October 2021). "Japan's Princess Mako marries non-royal boyfriend Kei Komuro in subdued ceremony". CNN. Archived from the original on 26 October 2021. Retrieved 26 October 2021.
  18. ^ "Japan's Princess Mako starts Central America visit". Yahoo! Finance. Archived from the original on 10 July 2020. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
  19. ^ "Japan's Princess Mako begins second official visit to Paraguay - Hoy San Diego". www.sandiegouniontribune.com. 6 September 2016. Archived from the original on 14 June 2018. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
  20. ^ "Princess Mako begins a nine-day official visit to Bhutan". The Japan Times Online. 31 May 2017. ISSN 0447-5763. Archived from the original on 12 November 2020. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
  21. ^ "Princess Mako visits folk museum in Hungary with father Prince Akishino". The Japan Times. 20 August 2017. Archived from the original on 7 January 2018. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
  22. ^ "Japanese Princess Mako Begins Visit do Brazil's Biggest City". The New York Times. 21 July 2018. Archived from the original on 22 July 2018. Retrieved 21 July 2018.
  23. ^ "Japan's Princess Mako meets with Peruvian president". Kyodo News. 12 July 2019. Archived from the original on 15 July 2019. Retrieved 14 July 2019.
  24. ^ 「眞子さまがホームステイ 夏にオーストリアへ」[_permanent dead link_] Hokkaido Shimbun 11 July 2006 10:44
  25. ^ 「世界遺産の宮殿を見学 ウィーンで眞子さま」 Chugoku Shimbun 12 August 2006
  26. ^ "眞子さま、身分を隠しボランティア活動「実際に行ってみないとわからない...」". Archived from the original on 6 April 2016. Retrieved 8 April 2016.
  27. ^ "「研究部」". The University Museum, The University of Tokyo (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 22 September 2016. Retrieved 15 September 2016.
  28. ^ Mikelbank, Peter (11 April 2022). "Japan's Former Princess Mako Lands New Job in N.Y.C. After Giving Up Titles to Marry for Love". People. Archived from the original on 11 April 2022. Retrieved 11 April 2022.
  29. ^ "Princess Mako to lose Japan royal status by marrying commoner". BBC. 18 May 2017. Archived from the original on 26 October 2021. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
  30. ^ a b Mikelbank, Peter (13 November 2020). "Japan's Princess Mako, Who's Giving up Royal Status to Marry Commoner, Postpones Wedding Again". People. Archived from the original on 27 October 2021. Retrieved 27 October 2021.
  31. ^ "Japan's Princess Mako Gives Up her Royal Status to Marry a Commoner". Time. 3 September 2017. Archived from the original on 26 October 2021. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
  32. ^ "Princess Mako's marriage prospects unknown, Crown Prince Akishino says". The Japan Times. 22 June 2019. Archived from the original on 26 October 2021. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
  33. ^ a b c McCurry, Justin (1 October 2021). "Princess Mako wedding announcement stirs up media frenzy in Japan". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 1 October 2021. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  34. ^ "Japan's Princess Mako Finally Marries Commoner Boyfriend Kei Komuro After Years of Controversy". Tatler Asia. 26 October 2021. Archived from the original on 29 October 2021. Retrieved 25 August 2022.
  35. ^ Rich, Motoko; Inoue, Makiko (26 October 2021). "At Last, a Royal Wedding. But No Trumpets, Just a News Conference". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 28 October 2021. Retrieved 26 October 2021.
  36. ^ Yamaguchi, Mari (26 October 2021). "Japan's Princess Mako marries commoner, loses royal status". Associated Press. Archived from the original on 26 October 2021. Retrieved 26 October 2021.
  37. ^ "Japan's Princess Mako finally marries commoner boyfriend Kei Komuro". BBC. 26 October 2021. Archived from the original on 26 October 2021. Retrieved 26 October 2021.
  38. ^ "眞子さま渋谷区内のマンションで渡米準備 あす婚姻届提出後に皇籍離脱". TBS News (in Japanese). 25 October 2021. Archived from the original on 25 October 2021. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
  39. ^ "Komuro finally settles money issue between mother, ex-fiance". THE ASAHI SHIMBUN. Archived from the original on 14 December 2022. Retrieved 14 December 2022.
  40. ^ Wang, Philip (13 November 2021). "Former Japanese princess moves to New York with newlywed husband". CNN. Archived from the original on 14 November 2021. Retrieved 14 November 2021.
  41. ^ "Kei Komuro to attend Fordham Law". Fordham Law. 5 July 2018. Archived from the original on 4 February 2023. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
  42. ^ a b Sloan, Karen (24 October 2022). "Japan's most famous law grad beats odds in 3rd N.Y. bar exam attempt". Reuters. Archived from the original on 7 November 2022. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
  43. ^ "Husband of former Japanese princess begins work as lawyer in US". NHK. 1 March 2023. Archived from the original on 16 March 2023. Retrieved 16 March 2023.
  44. ^ "眞子さま、「複雑性PTSD」と診断 宮内庁が発表". The Asahi Shimbun (in Japanese). 1 October 2021. Archived from the original on 1 October 2021. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
  45. ^ "Princess Mako's marriage prospects unknown, Crown Prince Akishino says". The Japan Times. 22 June 2019. Archived from the original on 26 October 2021. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
  46. ^ Landers, Peter; Inada, Miho (1 October 2021). "Japan's Princess Mako to Marry as Palace Blames Media for Her PTSD". The Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on 1 October 2021. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  47. ^ "Their Imperial Highnesses Crown Prince and Crown Princess Akishino and their family". The Imperial Household Agency. Archived from the original on 17 April 2019. Retrieved 11 February 2022.
  48. ^ "Japan's Princess Mako gives up royal status to marry boyfriend she met at university". Evening Standard. Archived from the original on 11 February 2022. Retrieved 11 February 2022.
  49. ^ "Why Princess Mako's nuptials with commoner is no fairy tale wedding; Japan stands divided". October 2021. Archived from the original on 20 October 2021. Retrieved 13 October 2021.
  50. ^ "Brazil Decorates Princess Mako". Nippon.com. Archived from the original on 12 October 2021. Retrieved 13 October 2021.
  51. ^ "Crown Prince Akishino, Princess Mako Get Medals from Paraguay". 5 October 2021. Archived from the original on 9 October 2021. Retrieved 13 October 2021.