Princess Mako and Kei Komuro's story has drawn attention to a looming succession crisis for the country's monarchy, which is said to be the world's oldest
NBC News says that when Princess Mako of Japan, Emperor Naruhito’s niece and the daughter of his younger brother, Crown Prince Fumihito, wed in Tokyo yesterday, there was no lavish ceremony, and none of the rites traditionally associated with Japanese royal weddings.
Japan's Princess Mako married her college sweetheart Kei Komuro – thus losing her royal status, according to the BBC.
Under Japanese law, female imperial family members forfeit their status upon marriage to a "commoner" although male members do not.
She also skipped the usual rites of a royal wedding and turned down a payment offered to royal females upon their departure from the family.
She is the first female member of the royal family to decline both.
The couple are expected to move to the US – where Mr. Komuro works as a lawyer – after marriage. The move has drawn inevitable comparisons with British royals Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, earning the newlyweds the nickname "Japan's Harry and Meghan".
Like Ms. Markle, Mr. Komuro has come under intense scrutiny since his relationship with MS Mako was announced. He was most recently criticized for sporting a ponytail when he returned to Japan.
Their story has reportedly also drawn attention to a looming succession crisis for the Japanese monarchy, which is said to be the oldest in the world. With ascension to the Chrysanthemum Throne restricted to the male bloodline, the family is running low on members — 17 in total now that Mako is married. Neither Naruhito’s daughter, Aiko, nor Mako and her sister, Kako, are in line because they are women. Now the crown’s future rests on the shoulders of Mako’s 15-year-old brother, Prince Hisahito, the only heir of his generation.
