Shakespeare in his ever celebrated Hamlet wrote, "Doubt thou the stars are fire; Doubt that the sun doth move; Doubt truth to be a liar; But never doubt I love". Princess Mako of Japan eventually won the battle for her love. Despite losing her royal status, Princess Mako tied the nuptial knot with Kei Komuro, her college sweetheart, a lawyer by profession and a commoner.
As per the law in Japan, following marriage to a commoner, the female members of the imperial family forfeit their royal titles.
Consequently, Princess Mako was denied the privilege of having the prestige of a royal wedding in her intensely debated and highly controversial marriage.
Princess Mako refused the payment offered to a royal female following her departure from the family where she became an exception while being the first female member of the Japanese royal family to decline both.
Princess Mako is the eldest niece of Japan's emperor. Her long time love affair with her college sweetheart encountered years of criticism by a concerned cross section which upholds conservative and orthodox ideologies.
The BBC reported, "The move has drawn inevitable comparisons with British royals Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, earning the newlyweds the nickname "Japan's Harry and Meghan". Since the relationship between Princess Mako and Komuro was announced, the intense media scrutiny that Komuro has been encountering is tremendous.
Most recently, the young man was criticized for sporting a ponytail as he returned home from New York. The BBC further reported, "Some tabloid newspapers and social media users felt his hairstyle seen as unconventional in Japan was unbecoming of someone set to marry a princess".
A lot of people were seen protesting against the marriage in a Japanese park. There were many slogans demonstrating the financial issues surrounding Komuro's mother due to which the marriage got delayed, the BBC reported.
Princess Mako in a press conference made an apology to the people of Japan for any trouble and hard feelings brought to them by her marriage. She said, "I am very sorry for the inconvenience caused and I am grateful for those… who have continued to support me".
Komuro said, “I love Mako. We only get one life, and I want us to spend it with the one we love".
Komuro addressing the press conference further explained that his mother had an extremely hard time over the media criticism regarding her debt to her ex-boyfriend which has eventually made her suffer from a mental illness.
As further reported by ‘The New York Times’, Komuro's mother had obtained 4 million yen, or approximately $ 36,000, from a former boyfriend whom she had not repaid which consequently aroused the critics to point out that the sheer intention of Komuro, trying getting married to the imperial royal family is nothing but merely money and fame. Citing the curdled public opinion, Princess Mako's father withheld the approval of the marriage.
International media reported that due to heavy media exposure, the princess is suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. The couple who were college sweethearts at the International Christian University in Tokyo registered their marriage testifying their love for each other. The bride was attired in a pale blue sheath dress and jacket with a single strand of pearls while the groom was attired in a dark navy blue striped suit.
‘The New York Times’ reported, "Underlying many of the virulent opinions about Princess Mako's choice of partner is a strain of existential panic about the royal family which stands as a symbol of traditional Japan. The world's oldest monarchy faces a looming succession crisis, and the princess's marriage highlights a problem that the government has declined to address".
Critics on social media have branded Mr.Komuro as a grifter or a gold digger. ‘The New York Times’ further reported "Royal watchers say that Komuro falls short of traditional expectations for Japanese men and that treatment reflects suspicion of the outside world". The princess holds a master's degree in art museum and gallery from the Britian's University of Leicester.
For more than five years, she has also worked in a museum in Tokyo. As such, it is said that she will be able to find job in New York's art world. It is known that in Japan the imperial family is treated as gods.
According to ‘The New York Times’, a considerable number of Japanese people are of the view that the law should be amended in a way where the women are also allowed to head a line of succession or succeed the throne.Despite all the controversies and media frenzy, Princess Mako and Komuro are now married. The couple will have to live off Komuro's salary first.
As ‘The New York Times’ reported the new Mrs. Komuro, answering a question from a reporter during the afternoon following their marriage, declared that she is not interested in media interviews and further hoped "just to lead a peaceful life in my new environment".