Japanese Princess Mako Marries Commoner, Loses Royal Position
2021-10-27
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1Japan's Princess Mako on Tuesday quietly married a commoner without traditional wedding celebrations.
2She said her marriage to her former university classmate, Kei Komuro, "was a necessary choice to live while cherishing our hearts."
3Komuro added, "I love Mako. I live only once and I want to spend it with someone I love."
4The marriage to Komuro cost Mako her royal position and title.
5She also received her husband's family name -- the first time she has had a family name.
6Most Japanese women must drop their own family name after marriage because of a law requiring only one family name for a married couple.
7The couple's marriage document made the union official on Tuesday morning, the Imperial Household Agency said.
8There were no royal marriage ceremonies for the couple.
9The agency admitted that many Japanese have not welcomed their marriage.
10Mako earlier refused to accept a 140 million yen -- about $1.23 million -- payment offered to her for leaving the imperial family.
11She is the first imperial family member since World War II to not receive the payment.
12She chose to not accept the payment because of criticism of the marriage.
13Mako turned 30 years old three days before the marriage.
14She is a niece of Emperor Naruhito.
15She and Komuro attended school together at Tokyo's International Christian University.
16The couple announced in September 2017 that they planned to marry the following year.
17But two months after their announcement, the media began reporting about a financial dispute between Komuro's mother and her former fiancé.
18The main claimed Komuro and his mother had not repaid a debt of about $35,000.
19The couple's wedding was suspended.
20On Tuesday morning, Mako left the palace wearing a light blue dress and holding flowers.
21She bowed outside the palace to her parents, Crown Prince Akishino and Crown Princess Kiko, and hugged her sister Kako.
22The couple did not answer questions at the news conference Tuesday.
23Mako had expressed unease about giving answers in person.
24Instead, they provided written answers to questions sent by the media ahead of time, including those about Komuro's mother's financial issues.
25Mako is recovering from what palace doctors described earlier this month as severe stress from continued media criticism.
26"We have been...saddened ... as false information has been taken as fact and that unfounded stories have spread," Mako said in a written answer to one of the questions.
27Komuro, who is 30 years old, left for New York in 2018 to study law.
28He returned to Japan last month.
29His hair was tied back at the time.
30The look drew attention as a strong statement for someone marrying a princess in the traditional imperial family.
31It added to the media's criticism of him.
32The couple will move together to New York to start a new life.
33Many in Tokyo wished them good luck.
34"Congratulations," said office worker Yasuhiro Suzuki. "I hope people in America will welcome them."
35Speaking about her mental health issues, Mako noted that "many people have difficulty and hurt feelings while trying to protect their hearts."
36She added that she hoped "our society will be a place where more people can live and protect their hearts with the help of warm help and support from others."
37Mako is not the only female royal whose mental health was affected by attacks from inside and outside the palace.
38Her grandmother, Empress Emerita Michiko, was the first commoner to marry into the Japanese imperial family.
39She collapsed and temporarily lost her voice in 1993 following continued negative media attention.
40Empress Masako is a Harvard-educated former diplomat.
41She has had a mental condition for nearly 20 years in part because of criticism over not producing a boy who would become Emperor.
42Some critics say Mako's marriage brings attention to the difficulties faced by women in the Japanese imperial family.
43Mako's loss of her royal position comes from the Imperial House Law, which permits only male succession.
44Female imperial family members must leave if they marry commoners.
45The male-only succession tradition leaves only Akishino and his son, Prince Hisahito, in line to take the place of Emperor Naruhito.
46A group of government-appointed experts is discussing ways to create a different succession system.
47But conservatives still reject female succession and permitting women to be at the head of the imperial family.
48I'm John Russell.
49And I'm Ashley Thompson.
1Japan's Princess Mako on Tuesday quietly married a commoner without traditional wedding celebrations. She said her marriage to her former university classmate, Kei Komuro, "was a necessary choice to live while cherishing our hearts." 2Komuro added, "I love Mako. I live only once and I want to spend it with someone I love." 3The marriage to Komuro cost Mako her royal position and title. She also received her husband's family name -- the first time she has had a family name. Most Japanese women must drop their own family name after marriage because of a law requiring only one family name for a married couple. 4The couple's marriage document made the union official on Tuesday morning, the Imperial Household Agency said. There were no royal marriage ceremonies for the couple. 5The agency admitted that many Japanese have not welcomed their marriage. 6Mako earlier refused to accept a 140 million yen -- about $1.23 million -- payment offered to her for leaving the imperial family. She is the first imperial family member since World War II to not receive the payment. She chose to not accept the payment because of criticism of the marriage. 7Mako turned 30 years old three days before the marriage. She is a niece of Emperor Naruhito. She and Komuro attended school together at Tokyo's International Christian University. 8The couple announced in September 2017 that they planned to marry the following year. But two months after their announcement, the media began reporting about a financial dispute between Komuro's mother and her former fiancé. The main claimed Komuro and his mother had not repaid a debt of about $35,000. 9The couple's wedding was suspended. 10On Tuesday morning, Mako left the palace wearing a light blue dress and holding flowers. She bowed outside the palace to her parents, Crown Prince Akishino and Crown Princess Kiko, and hugged her sister Kako. 11The couple did not answer questions at the news conference Tuesday. Mako had expressed unease about giving answers in person. Instead, they provided written answers to questions sent by the media ahead of time, including those about Komuro's mother's financial issues. 12Mako is recovering from what palace doctors described earlier this month as severe stress from continued media criticism. 13"We have been...saddened ... as false information has been taken as fact and that unfounded stories have spread," Mako said in a written answer to one of the questions. 14Komuro, who is 30 years old, left for New York in 2018 to study law. He returned to Japan last month. His hair was tied back at the time. The look drew attention as a strong statement for someone marrying a princess in the traditional imperial family. It added to the media's criticism of him. 15The couple will move together to New York to start a new life. 16Many in Tokyo wished them good luck. 17"Congratulations," said office worker Yasuhiro Suzuki. "I hope people in America will welcome them." 18Speaking about her mental health issues, Mako noted that "many people have difficulty and hurt feelings while trying to protect their hearts." She added that she hoped "our society will be a place where more people can live and protect their hearts with the help of warm help and support from others." 19Mako is not the only female royal whose mental health was affected by attacks from inside and outside the palace. Her grandmother, Empress Emerita Michiko, was the first commoner to marry into the Japanese imperial family. She collapsed and temporarily lost her voice in 1993 following continued negative media attention. 20Empress Masako is a Harvard-educated former diplomat. She has had a mental condition for nearly 20 years in part because of criticism over not producing a boy who would become Emperor. 21Some critics say Mako's marriage brings attention to the difficulties faced by women in the Japanese imperial family. 22Mako's loss of her royal position comes from the Imperial House Law, which permits only male succession. Female imperial family members must leave if they marry commoners. 23The male-only succession tradition leaves only Akishino and his son, Prince Hisahito, in line to take the place of Emperor Naruhito. 24A group of government-appointed experts is discussing ways to create a different succession system. But conservatives still reject female succession and permitting women to be at the head of the imperial family. 25I'm John Russell. 26And I'm Ashley Thompson. 27The Associated Press reported this story. Ashley Thompson adapted it for VOA Learning English, with additional materials from Reuters news agency. Hai Do was the editor. 28_______________________________________________ 29Words in This Story 30cherish - v. to feel or show great love for (someone or something) 31royal - adj. of or relating to a king or queen 32imperial - adj . of or relating to an empire or an emperor 33bow - v. to bend forward at the neck or waist as a formal way of greeting someone or showing respect 34hug - v. to put your arms around someone especially as a way of showing love or friendship 35palace - n. the official home of a king, queen, president, etc. 36stress - n. a state of mental tension and worry caused by problems in your life, work, etc. 37succession - n. the act of getting a title or right after the person who had that title or right before you has died or is no longer able or allowed to have it