Former Princess Mako says marriage was a 'necessary choice'
27 October, 2021
Former Princess Mako Komuro, who married commoner Kei Komuro on Tuesday, said their marriage was a "necessary choice" and she wants to lead a "peaceful life" in a new environment after years of public controversy over a family financial dispute.
Speaking to the press after registering their marriage, the former princess said she understands there are differing opinions about their union and apologized to people who were affected. But she said it was necessary for them to "live while cherishing and protecting our feelings."
Kei Komuro, the former princess's university sweetheart who currently works at a law firm in New York, said, "I love Mako-san. I only have one life and I'd like to spend it with a person I love." The suffix of "san" in Japanese is used to express respect.
The newlyweds, both 30, held a press conference for the first time since they announced their unofficial engagement in September 2017. This time, they only made opening remarks and provided a written response to questions submitted beforehand by the media.
"We will start a new life together. I know there would be different types of difficulties in our lives, but I would like for us to overcome them together as we have done until now," the former princess said.
Kei Komuro said he will "do whatever possible" to resolve the money trouble involving his mother and her former fiance while voicing regret at how the couple and their families became the targets of constant criticism since magazines first reported on the financial dispute in December 2017.
The former princess, a niece of Emperor Naruhito, has been diagnosed with complex post-traumatic stress disorder, the Imperial Household Agency recently said.
"For the past few years, incorrect information was treated as if it was true, and I am very saddened that Mako-san had problems on her physical and mental health due to defamation," he said.
The former princess also said she was "horrified, scared and saddened by the fact that false information has been taken as fact and that unfounded stories have spread" every time she heard speculation that her partner had made unilateral decisions, not caring about her feelings.
She said her husband's response to the money trouble and his decision to study at a U.S. law school reflected her wishes.
In a written response to a question about her worries in her new life, the former princess said, "If I have to pick the biggest concern, it would be continued libel against myself or my family, or Kei-san or Kei-san's family." The couple are expected to start a new life in New York.
Kei Komuro said his mother had fallen mentally ill and cannot meet her former fiance to resolve the dispute over 4 million yen ($35,000) in financial support provided to her. The former princess said she is aware of how her husband has been trying to settle the dispute.
Following brief opening remarks, written responses by the couple to five questions submitted in advance by the media were distributed, and the couple exited the room in about 10 minutes.
The newlyweds were originally scheduled to give verbal answers to the questions. But the agency abruptly announced on Monday night that they would provide written responses in consideration of the health of the former princess, who "feels a strong sense of anxiety" providing verbal responses.
They did not provide specifics about their new life in New York, saying in the written response that it is a "private matter."
Mako Komuro said she does not have any particular thoughts about the comparison of the couple by some media to Britain's Prince Harry and his wife Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, who moved to the United States, and is not considering giving any interviews at the moment like the one the British royal couple did.
"What I would like is just to lead a peaceful life in my new environment," the former princess said.
Following the couple' marriage, Mako's parents -- Crown Prince Fumihito and Crown Princess Kiko -- said in a statement that their eldest daughter's marriage was "unprecedented for the imperial family," adding they hope she will cherish the feelings she has built up over time and make a happy family.
Mako, who left her family's imperial residence Tuesday morning, is set to stay in a Tokyo condominium while preparing to move to New York, where Komuro works at a law firm.
Wearing a light green dress and holding a bouquet of flowers, she bowed several times to her parents and her younger sister Princess Kako as she left the residence in Tokyo at around 10 a.m.
The sisters hugged each other before Mako entered a car and left for a Tokyo hotel to meet the press with her husband, while her family waved until she was out of sight. Some 10 agency officials were also there to send her off.
Since Japanese imperial family members do not have passports, the princess needs to apply for hers as an ordinary citizen. She is expected to leave for the United States next month at the earliest.
Source: japantoday.com
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