Former Japanese royal, Princess Mako, has welcomed her first child with husband Kei Komuro, the Imperial Household Agency confirmed on Friday.
Mako, 33, is the niece of Emperor Naruhito and the eldest daughter of Crown Prince Fumihito and Crown Princess Kiko. She made international headlines in 2021 when she relinquished her royal status to marry Komuro, a commoner and her former university classmate.
As dictated by Japanese imperial law, female members of the royal family must forfeit their titles if they marry outside the aristocracy. Following their civil marriage ceremony in October 2021, the couple relocated to New York City, where Komuro now works as a lawyer.
The birth of their first child—whose name and gender have not been disclosed—marks a new chapter for the former royal couple. According to the Imperial Household Agency, both mother and baby are in good health.
A representative for the agency, Naomasa Yoshida, shared that while the birth is a private matter for someone no longer a member of the Imperial Family, the announcement was made in response to widespread media reports.
“This is a matter for a person who has left the Imperial Family, and we had hoped she would spend her time in a quiet environment,” Yoshida stated, as quoted by the Japan Times.
“We decided to make the announcement, however, in light of some media reports [about the birth].”
Mako’s parents, Crown Prince Fumihito and Crown Princess Kiko, reportedly expressed their joy and offered warm wishes for the family’s happiness.
A Royal Love Story That Defied Tradition
Princess Mako’s decision to leave the Imperial Family for love drew global attention and was compared to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s exit from the British royal family. Much like the Sussexes, Mako and Komuro have chosen a private life away from royal duties, pursuing careers and building a family in the United States.
Their wedding in 2021 was notably modest, held behind closed doors without the elaborate celebrations typical of royal Japanese weddings. The low-key affair followed years of public scrutiny and delays, largely driven by controversy surrounding Komuro’s family finances.
Now, with the birth of their child, Mako and Komuro appear to be embracing a peaceful life away from the spotlight, focused on family and new beginnings.