Japan’s Princess Mako marries commoner, loses royal status

By MARI YAMAGUCHI
Associated Press

TOKYO (AP) — Japanese Princess Mako says she will “walk together” in a new life with her husband after they married without a celebration in a union that has split public opinion. Mako lost her royal status upon marrying commoner Kei Komuro and the couple will live in New York, where he attended law school. Their wedding was delayed three years by a financial dispute involving his mother. The palace has acknowledged that many people have not welcomed their marriage and said Mako developed a stress disorder due to the criticism. She declined more than a million dollars to which she was entitled upon leaving the imperial family. Mako says the marriage “was a necessary choice to live while cherishing our hearts.”