The former Japanese princess Mako Komuro left this Sunday (11/14/2021) for the United States with her husband, exchanging the old imperial rites for the lights of New York.
The couple married in October in Tokyo after years of press rumors and online complaints about their relationship, which Komuro said caused “sadness and pain.”
Both 30 years old, they boarded a commercial flight on Sunday in Tokyo to New York, a city where Kei Komuro studied law and currently works.
Strongly guarded by police and airport agents, the couple passed around 100 journalists and cameramen without responding to inquiries.
Mako, granddaughter of Emperor Naruhito, lost her royal title when she married a commoner due to succession laws, which only allow men to access the throne.
After announcing their engagement in 2017, the Komuros faced a flurry of press reports about Kei’s family’s alleged financial difficulties.
A lot is demanded of Japanese royalty, and the Imperial Household Agency said Mako suffered post-traumatic stress from the media attention.
Mako with mental and physical difficulties
“I’ve been scared, feeling sadness and pain when rumors turn into unsubstantiated stories,” Mako said at a news conference after the wedding.
Kei said he was “very sad that Mako was in mental and physical difficulties” and stated that “I love Mako. We have only one life and I want to spend it with the person I love.”
The controversy over the couple and their move to the United States generated inevitable comparisons with another royal couple, British Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.
The Japanese press said that the Komuro, who met at the University of Tokyo, already have a place to live in New York.
The Japanese emperor has no political power, but he is a symbolically important figure.
With few men in royalty, there has been a bit of debate about rule change in Japan, with some polls showing broad popular support for allowing women to rule.
But any change would be slow in the face of vehement opposition from traditionalists.
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