Mako Komuro, a former Japanese princess appears in holiday mood ahead of New York’s first Christmas. She has lived in New York since last month’s dramatic exit from the Imperial Palace.
In exclusive DailyMail.com photos, the 30-year-old ex-royal was seen on Thursday on Upper East Side holding festive gifts.
Mako now uses her last and first names after she married Kei Komuro. She visited an apartment complex on Park Avenue whose residents included Caroline Kennedy, a US diplomat.
It is unclear if she stopped by to see Kennedy, who was appointed US ambassador to Japan in 2013 by Barack Obama, and resigned shortly before President Trump’s inauguration in 2017.
Kennedy currently awaits Senate confirmation following President Biden’s nomination of her as Ambassador to Australia.
Japan’s ex-Princess of Akishino Mako Komuro was seen walking around New York’s Upper East Side on Thursday
A 30-year-old ex-Japanese royal seemed to be giving out some Christmas gifts in preparation for her first Christmas in New York
Mako Komuro – who, after she married her commoner husband, gave up her title – was dressed in all her usual attire as she took to the streets.
While she was seen at an apartment complex where Caroline Kennedy resides, it is not clear if the US diplomat visited her.
Mako was the only person present during the outing. He entered the building about 1pm, and stayed in the area for approximately 3 hours.
The stylish black longline double breasted jacket, cream turtleneck blouse, green patterned skirt and black tights kept her warm in frigid New York City.
Her outfit was completed with a matching blue handbag, and she covered her face in a white makeup mask.
Mako has been adapting to her new life as a commoner in New York City where she recently moved with her new husband after sensationally giving up her royal title to marry him in October.
Mako celebrates the festive season in America for the first time. Mako lives half a planet away from Japan and Christmas is not an officially recognized holiday. In America, however, it is a secular festival.
The older daughter of Crown Prince Fumihito (and niece to reigning Emperor Naruhito) was seen wandering through the streets of Tokyo last month. This is her first outing since Tokyo’s Imperial Palace was sold for brighter lights in the Big Apple.
She made a trip to Bed, Bath & Beyond to pick up some home essentials for the couple’s new marital home in Hell’s Kitchen.
At 1pm, the princess entered the building carrying Christmas presents and stayed for several hours.
Mako plans to celebrate her first Christmas here in New York City. It’s half a world from Tokyo, Japan’s Imperial Palace.
Barack Obama appointed Caroline Kennedy as the US Ambassador to Japan in 2013. She resigned in 2017. It is well-known that she lives in a Park Ave unit worth $25M.
Then U.S. Then U.S. Ambassador to Japan Caroline Kennedy (L) and her estranged husband Edwin Schlossberg (R) with Japanese female divers on their April 16th 2014 visit to Mikimoto Pearl Farming island in Toba.
DailyMail.com Exclusive Photos show Mako shopping at the home furnishings shop where she spent an hour and half looking for towel racks, coat hangers, basket organizers and paper towels.
Mako was by herself during the shopping trip. Mako drove her own cart around the shop and she had no security personnel. Mako was wearing a long, forest-green coat, black top and blue jeans. It’s a more casual outfit than the formal clothes she wears in public.
After leaving behind a nation who criticized her marriage and being forced to adapt to a different country, the Princess has become a fish without a pond.
Mako loses her royal title due to the Imperial House Law that allows only male succession. The daughter of an emperor’s younger brother and Her 15-year old brother Hisahito will likely become the next emperor.
Mako was warm and dressed for cold New York City temperatures in a longline, black double-breasted coat. She matched it with a matching blue handbag
A cream turtleneck, green patterned skirt, black tights and black ballet shoes were her outfit.
Mako is adapting well to her new life in New York City as a commoner after she gave up her title of princess to wed him in October
Mako and Kei Komuro were married in Tokyo on October 8th after eight years together – despite opposition in their home country of up to 80%.
Palace officials stated that Mako turned down the 140million yen ($1.2million), payment she received for her departure from the Imperial family. It is likely that she will find work in New York.
According to the report, her husband failed the New York State Bar Association exam. Japanese broadcaster NHK.
Komuro took the exam this summer, and when the results were posted on the website of the New York State Board of Law Examiners his name was not among the successful candidates – another piece of news that Japanese media have used to attack him, although it is common to pass after multiple attempts.
The broadcaster reported that Komuro said he will continue to study and will take the exam again in February.
Mako and Kei Komuro saw Mako out in New York City after Mako left Tokyo last month.
Mako was seen picking up home necessities this weekend, as she settles into New York.
Mako’s casual get up was a far cry from the formal attire she was often seen wearing back home
Mako is the oldest daughter of Crown Prince Fumihito. She also happens to be the niece of reigning Emperor Naruhito. Japan’s public opinion was split when she married Kei Komuro, her sweetheart and university friend.
Komuro declared, “I love Mako,” to reporters after they registered their marriage in Tokyo.
The couple did this without any wedding celebrations or other celebratory traditions.
He said, “I want to share the best life with my love,”
Kei Komuro was born in Japan and has been living in New York since 2003. He attended Fordham University in Bronx, before he got a job at Lowenstein Sandler. For his article on “compliance issues in website accessibility: implications for entrepreneurs” he was awarded a $2,000 prize in the New York State Bar Association’s annual Student Writing Competition.
Mako has had to make changes in her own life after losing the title of queen. Her surname was her first in her adult life. She needed a passport to travel to America.
While Japan may appear modern in some ways, Japan’s values regarding family relationships and women’s status are often seen as outdated and deeply rooted in feudal traditions.
These views were amplified in public reactions to the marriage. Many Japanese consider themselves to be involved in matters such as these, since taxpayer funds support the imperial system of family life.
Others have been married to commoners, and they left the palace. Mako, however, is the only one who has triggered such outrage. There was a frenzy on social media as well as in tabloids.
Mako also spoke She will continue supporting her husband’s education.