Former Japanese Princess Mako Komuro has given birth to her first child. Palace officials in Japan confirmed the news on Friday, though they provided few details, citing her status as a private citizen.
The Imperial Household Agency stated that both the mother and child are in good health. However, they did not disclose the baby’s date of birth or gender. The confirmation follows recent media reports in Japan regarding the baby’s arrival.
Life After Royalty
Mako Komuro, age 33, is a niece of Japan’s Emperor Naruhito. She married her college classmate, Kei Komuro, a commoner, in October 2021. Under Japan’s Imperial House Law, female members of the imperial family lose their royal status upon marrying a commoner.
Days after their marriage, Mako and Kei Komuro moved to New York City, where Kei works as a lawyer. The Imperial Household Agency noted that they publicly confirmed the birth despite Mako no longer being a royal member because of prior media reports. They expressed hope that Mako and her family could live in a quiet environment.
Mako’s parents, Crown Prince Akishino and Crown Princess Kiko, and her younger siblings, Princess Kako and Prince Hisahito, are reportedly delighted by the news and wished Mako’s family happiness, according to officials.
Japanese tabloid magazine Josei Seven recently published photographs reportedly showing Mako and Kei Komuro walking with a baby stroller in a New York neighborhood.
Former Japanese Princess Mako and Kei Komuro at press conference
Engagement and Marriage Context
Mako and Kei Komuro met while attending Tokyo’s International Christian University. They first announced their intention to marry in September 2017, planning for a wedding the following year. However, the marriage was delayed for four years due to a financial dispute involving Kei Komuro’s mother.
The controversy surrounding the financial issue led Mako to decline a traditional dowry, a payment she was entitled to upon leaving the imperial family. The couple ultimately married in a subdued ceremony without traditional imperial rites.
Imperial Succession Law
Mako’s departure from the imperial family is a consequence of Japan’s Imperial House Law, which restricts succession to the throne to male heirs. This law currently leaves only Crown Prince Akishino, Emperor Naruhito’s younger brother, and Akishino’s son, Prince Hisahito, in line to succeed Emperor Naruhito.
A government panel is currently discussing options for ensuring a more stable imperial succession system. However, conservative factions within Japan largely oppose allowing female succession. Discussions have focused more on possibilities such as allowing female royals to retain some public duties after marriage, rather than changing the fundamental succession rules.
The birth marks a new chapter in the private life of the former princess, away from the public duties of the Japanese imperial family.
Learn more about Princess Mako’s marriage and departure from the imperial family or the status of Prince Hisahito in the line of succession.
