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Missing Princess Mako: what does Japan’s royal family think of her move to New York? Kako, Aiko and father Fumihito support her, but Japan’s PM Fumio Kishida is still not ready for a female emperor

Japan’s former Princess Mako, the elder daughter of Crown Prince Akishino and Crown Princess Kiko, left the Japanese royal family to move to the US. Photo: AP
Japan’s former Princess Mako, the elder daughter of Crown Prince Akishino and Crown Princess Kiko, left the Japanese royal family to move to the US. Photo: AP
Royalty

  • Now known as Mako Komuro after marrying university sweetheart Kei Komuro and renouncing her royal title, former Princess Mako is interning at The Met in New York
  • Her family support her, but pressure is on her younger brother Prince Hisahito to continue the royal bloodline, though some support women ascending to the Chrysanthemum Throne too

After a controversy-filled wedding, Mrs Mako Komuro, formerly known as Princess Mako of Japan, is seemingly having the best time since moving to New York.
 

She interns at The Met, rents a luxury flat with husband Kei Komuro and runs errands freely. The 30-year-old former royal has even started sporting casual outfits.

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Formerly known as Princess Mako, Mako Komuro moved to the US in 2021. Photo: @danish_royalista/Instagram
Formerly known as Princess Mako, Mako Komuro moved to the US in 2021. Photo: @danish_royalista/Instagram

But what about Mako’s imperial family back in Japan? How have they been since she tied the knot with her university sweetheart, quit royal life and left for the US?

The first official family portrait without Mako Komuro

The Imperial Household Agency released new photos of the Japanese royal family – Crown Prince Fumihito, Crown Princess Kiko, Princess Kako and Prince Hisahito – in December 2021. Photo: @royalwatcherdiary/Instagram
The Imperial Household Agency released new photos of the Japanese royal family – Crown Prince Fumihito, Crown Princess Kiko, Princess Kako and Prince Hisahito – in December 2021. Photo: @royalwatcherdiary/Instagram

To ring in the new year, Crown Prince Fumihito and Crown Princess Kiko Akishino released a family picture with their two other children, Princess Kako and Prince Hisahito. The picture-perfect family – minus former Princess Mako – looked splendid in their formal attire at their official residence in Tokyo in December.

Emperor Naruhito with his wife Empress Masako and daughter Princess Aiko in a family portrait. Photo: @royal__magazine/Instagram
Emperor Naruhito with his wife Empress Masako and daughter Princess Aiko in a family portrait. Photo: @royal__magazine/Instagram
Former Princess Mako’s uncle, the reigning Emperor Naruhito, also shared separate snaps with his wife Empress Masako, and daughter Princess Aiko, to mark the new year.

Princess Aiko praised Mako’s move