Mako Komuro

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This article is about the former Japanese princess. For other uses, see Mako (disambiguation).

The native form of this personal name is Komuro Mako. This article uses Western name order when mentioning individuals.
Mako Komuro
Princess Mako and Princess Kako at the Tokyo Imperial Palace (cropped).jpg
Mako during the New Year's Greeting in 2015
Born
Princess Mako of Akishino (眞子内親王)

(1991-10-23) 23 October 1991 (age 30)
Imperial Household Agency Hospital, Tokyo Imperial Palace, Japan
OccupationResearcher at The University Museum, The University of Tokyo
Spouse(s)
Kei Komuro
​
(m. 2021)​
Parents
  • Fumihito, Crown Prince Akishino (father)
  • Kiko Kawashima (mother)

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 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. She married Kei Komuro, a paralegal, on 26 October 2021. As a result of her marriage to a commoner, she gave up her imperial title and left the imperial family, as required by the Imperial Household Law.

Early life and education[]

Mako with her parents and sister

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]

Public life[]

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 are not sure how they should handle this phenomenon, since they see 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]

Official visits[]

Princess Mako of Akishino visits President Salvador Sánchez Cerén of El Salvador in 2015

Personal interests[]

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.[23][24]

In July 2011, she worked as a volunteer in the affected areas of the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami without revealing her identity.[25]

She became a project researcher at The University Museum, The University of Tokyo on 1 April 2016.[26]

Engagement and marriage[]

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, a graduate of International Christian University (ICU).[27][28] The two had been reportedly dating since 2013.[29] The wedding was originally expected to take place in November 2018,[30] but it was postponed for approximately three years due to Kei Komuro's mother's involvement in a financial dispute over ¥4 million ($36,000) a Japanese weekly magazine reported she had received from her former fiancé, some of which went towards paying Komuro's tuition fees. The dispute resulted in the imperial family's and the public's disapproval of the match.[31][32] Early in 2021, Komuro released a 28-page statement, mentioning that his mother initially believed the money was a gift and added that he wished to pay it back.[33] In September 2021, it was reported that the marriage would take place in the form of a simple ceremony at a government office, with the date later announced as 26 October 2021, three days after Mako's 30th birthday.[34][32][35]

The couple gave a press conference after their wedding where they provided answers to five questions submitted in advance.[36][37] The couple announced their desire to move to New York as Kei Komuro gained a Juris Doctor degree from Fordham University School of Law in May 2021; his name is not listed in the official class of 2021 recognition page.[38](The National Student Clearinghouse is Fordham's agent for third-party academic records verifications.)[39]He is employed by the New York-based law firm Lowenstein Sandler LLP.[32][40] Awaiting her passport issuance and US Visa, she moved to her own residence in the Shibuya district in Tokyo as she is by law not allowed to live at her parents' house inside the imperial quarters.[41] The couple departed for New York in mid-November 2021.[42]

Titles, styles, and honours[]

Titles and styles[]

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.[43][44]

Honours[]

See also: List of honours of the Japanese imperial family by country

National honours[]

Foreign honours[]

References[]

  1. ^ "Visit of the General Public to the Palace for His Majesty's Birthday". The Imperial Household Agency. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
  2. ^ "Number of Imperial Telegrams (1991)". The Imperial Household Agency. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
  3. ^ "Japanese royal to spend time in Dublin studying English". The Irish Times. 18 June 2010. 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. 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. 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. 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.
  9. ^ "Princess Mako describes life at British university as 'fruitful' - The Japan Times". The Japan Times. 29 May 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.
  13. ^ Press-release: Japanese Princess to attend University of Leicester graduation ceremony - website University of Leicester
  14. ^ "Japanese Princess attends graduation ceremony". 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.
  17. ^ "Japan's Princess Mako starts Central America visit". Yahoo! Finance. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
  18. ^ "Japan's Princess Mako begins second official visit to Paraguay - Hoy San Diego". www.sandiegouniontribune.com. 6 September 2016. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
  19. ^ "Princess Mako begins a nine-day official visit to Bhutan". The Japan Times Online. 31 May 2017. ISSN 0447-5763. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
  20. ^ "Princess Mako visits folk museum in Hungary with father Prince Akishino". The Japan Times. 20 August 2017. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
  21. ^ "Japanese Princess Mako Begins Visit do Brazil's Biggest City". The New York Times. 21 July 2018. Retrieved 21 July 2018.
  22. ^ "Japan's Princess Mako meets with Peruvian president". Kyodo News. 12 July 2019. Retrieved 14 July 2019.
  23. ^ 「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
  24. ^ 「世界遺産の宮殿を見学　ウィーンで眞子さま」 Chugoku Shimbun 12 August 2006
  25. ^ 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…」
  26. ^ "「研究部」". The University Museum, The University of Tokyo (in Japanese). Retrieved 15 September 2016.
  27. ^ Yoshida, Reiji (16 May 2017). "Princess Mako, granddaughter of Emperor, set to marry ex-classmate". The Japan Times Online. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
  28. ^ "Princess Mako to lose Japan royal status by marrying commoner". BBC. 18 May 2017. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
  29. ^ Mikelbank, Peter (13 November 2020). "Japan's Princess Mako, Who's Giving up Royal Status to Marry Commoner, Postpones Wedding Again". People. Retrieved 27 October 2021.
  30. ^ "Japan's Princess Mako Gives Up her Royal Status to Marry a Commoner". Time. 3 September 2017. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
  31. ^ "Princess Mako's marriage prospects unknown, Crown Prince Akishino says". The Japan Times. 22 June 2019. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
  32. ^ a b c McCurry, Justin (1 October 2021). "Princess Mako wedding announcement stirs up media frenzy in Japan". The Guardian. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  33. ^ Ogura, Junko; Gan, Nectar (26 October 2021). "Japan's Princess Mako marries non-royal boyfriend Kei Komuro in subdued ceremony". CNN. Retrieved 26 October 2021.
  34. ^ Kirkpatrick, Emily (2 September 2021). "Princess Mako of Japan Turns Down $1.3 Million Government Payout Ahead of Her Marriage to a Commoner". Vanity Fair. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
  35. ^ Reuters, Story by. "Japan's Princess Mako celebrates final birthday as member of imperial family before wedding to commoner". CNN. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
  36. ^ Rich, Motoko; Inoue, Makiko (26 October 2021). "At Last, a Royal Wedding. But No Trumpets, Just a News Conference". The New York Times. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  37. ^ Yamaguchi, Mari (26 October 2021). "Japan's Princess Mako marries commoner, loses royal status". Associated Press. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  38. ^ "Class of 2021 Graduates". Fordham University.
  39. ^ "The National Student Clearinghouse".
  40. ^ Landers, Peter; Inada, Miho (1 October 2021). "Japan's Princess Mako to Marry as Palace Blames Media for Her PTSD". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  41. ^ "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. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
  42. ^ Wang, Philip (13 November 2021). "Former Japanese princess moves to New York with newlywed husband". CNN. Retrieved 14 November 2021.
  43. ^ "Their Imperial Highnesses Crown Prince and Crown Princess Akishino and their family". The Imperial Household Agency. Retrieved 11 February 2022.
  44. ^ "Japan's Princess Mako gives up royal status to marry boyfriend she met at university". Evening Standard. Retrieved 11 February 2022.
  45. ^ "Why Princess Mako's nuptials with commoner is no fairy tale wedding; Japan stands divided".
  46. ^ "Brazil Decorates Princess Mako". Nippon.com.
  47. ^ "Crown Prince Akishino, Princess Mako Get Medals from Paraguay". 5 October 2021.

External links[]

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