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The beginning of a new life: Mako and Kei Komuro at the airport in Tokyo
Photo:
ISSEI KATO / REUTERS
Former Japanese princess Mako moved to the United States with her husband Kei Komuro.
Under strict security precautions and accompanied by great media interest, the couple boarded a scheduled flight to New York at Tokyo Airport on Sunday.
When she married a commoner last month, King Naruhito's niece had given up her title of nobility.
The marriage had taken place years late.
Since announcing their engagement in 2017, the couple have been the focus of negative reports and comments.
It was mainly about a loan that Komuro's mother took out from a former fiancé and is said to have not paid back.
Instead of getting married, Komuro finally went to the USA to study law in 2018;
this was seen as a step to escape negative media attention.
He returned to Japan only a few weeks ago.
At a press conference after the marriage, the two 30-year-olds had for the first time openly announced their grief over the numerous negative reports.
“To me, kei is irreplaceable.
Our marriage is a necessary step in protecting our hearts, ”Mako said.
"I felt anxious, sad and full of pain whenever one-sided rumors turned into stories without any basis."
Komuro expressed regret that his new wife suffered from the negative news coverage.
According to the Imperial Household, Mako has post-traumatic stress disorder due to media reports.
Female members of the Japanese imperial family are excluded from the line of succession.
After marrying a commoner they have to give up their titles of nobility, their children are also excluded from the line of succession.
A change in the regulations has been discussed for some time.
Mako and Komuro met through a friend at the International Christian University (ICU), who both attended.
Mako was the first member of the imperial family to study there.
Mako said at the time of their engagement in 2017 that she was attracted to his "smile that shines like the sun" right at the beginning of their relationship.
And Komuro also chose flowery words for the princess at the time: she accompanied him carefully and "calmly as the moon".
nil / AFP / Reuters
