Japan's Princess Mako To Leave Imperial Household After Marrying Commoner College Sweetheart

Princess Mako of Japan’s Imperial Household exchanged wedding vows with her commoner boyfriend Kei Komuro Tuesday after years-long engagement.

When the couple announced their engagement four years ago, it was cheered by the people of Japan, but later many criticized the move as news on a money scandal involving Komuro's mom emerged. There were reports of a financial dispute between Komuro's mom and her ex-fiance, with the person claiming the mother-son duo had not repaid a debt of approximately $35,000. The wedding was postponed, and Komuro left the country to study law in New York in 2018. He returned to the country last month for the wedding.

An official from the Imperial Household Agency (IHA), which runs lives of the family, was present at their marriage. Paperwork to a local office was submitted and the couple skipped the numerous ceremonies like a reception and rituals usual to royal weddings, reported Reuters.

Despite foregoing several ceremonies, Mako, who is suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) due to excessive media and public criticism, met Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako Friday, according to The Guardian.

Mako also didn't take a payment of about $1.3 million, which is made to royal women who marry commoners and leave the royal family.

Mako and her husband will hold a press conference Tuesday afternoon to make a brief statement and give written replies to questions. Officials at the IHA said, "Some of the questions took mistaken information as fact and upset the princess." The couple will soon shift to New York.

Japan's royal family has seen its numbers diminish. Only men can ascend the throne in the country, so many royal women marry commoners as there is a lack of viable imperial suitors, and kids from those weddings are not included in the imperial family line, according to ABC News.

Commenting on it, a government spokesperson, Hirokazu Matsuno, said that they wish "Mako happiness, and prosperity for the imperial family. An expert panel has been established to address the issue (of dwindling numbers) in the imperial family. Detailed discussions are ongoing."

Meanwhile, Hideya Kawanishi, an associate professor of Japanese history at Nagoya University, believes that keeping together the royal family helps keep together the Asian country.