SAEDNEWS: Japan’s former Princess Mako, who gave up her royal status to marry Kei Komuro, has welcomed her first child in New York City, marking a new chapter in her life beyond the imperial palace.
On May 30, 2025, Japan’s former Princess Mako officially welcomed her first child, according to the Imperial Household Agency. While palace officials declined to reveal the child’s gender or date of birth, they confirmed that both mother and baby were healthy. The announcement marks a historic personal milestone for Mako, who left behind the rigid traditions of the Japanese monarchy to start a new life abroad.
Mako, the eldest daughter of Crown Prince Fumihito and Crown Princess Kiko, shocked Japan in 2021 when she relinquished her royal title to marry Kei Komuro, a commoner and her former university classmate. Under Japanese law, female royals who marry outside the Imperial Family lose their titles and privileges. For Mako, love outweighed tradition.
The couple, both now 33, met at Tokyo’s International Christian University during a study-abroad information session. Mako later recalled being drawn to Komuro’s “bright smile,” an image that contrasted with the formal, reserved atmosphere of the imperial palace. In 2013, Komuro proposed over dinner, and their relationship endured years of long-distance separation while Mako pursued graduate studies in England.
When the couple officially tied the knot in 2021, the ceremony was unlike any royal wedding Japan had seen. There were no public celebrations, no lavish receptions, and no parade. Instead, the event reflected the controversy surrounding their union. Komuro had faced intense media scrutiny, particularly over financial disputes within his family, which critics argued made him unsuitable for a princess.
Despite the criticism, Mako stood firm. In a rare press conference after her marriage, she said: “Kei is irreplaceable for me. For us, marriage was a necessary choice to live while staying true to our hearts.”
Following their wedding, the couple relocated to Manhattan, where Komuro began working at a New York law firm. Mako, who holds a master’s degree in Art Museum and Gallery Studies from Leicester University in the UK, has embraced a quieter life. Reports suggest she has worked with museums and cultural institutions, living a lifestyle far removed from the rigid duties of an imperial princess.
Their new baby now adds another chapter to this journey. The child is the first grandchild of Crown Prince Fumihito and Crown Princess Kiko, and a niece or nephew to Princess Kako and Prince Hisahito. However, unlike other imperial grandchildren, Mako’s child has no royal title and will grow up entirely outside the Imperial Household.
Mako’s decision and new family life continue to fuel conversations in Japan about the future of the monarchy. With male heirs dwindling, debates over whether women should be allowed to remain in the Imperial Family after marriage have resurfaced. For now, Mako’s choice reflects the tension between tradition and modernity in one of the world’s oldest monarchies.
While the palace requested privacy, the birth of Mako’s child is more than a personal milestone. It is also a reminder of how love, personal freedom, and the desire for a normal life can reshape even the most deeply entrenched royal traditions.
