Former Japanese Princess moves to US after giving up royalty to begin life with her new husband

Former Japanese Princess Mako has moved to the United States with her newlywed husband, commoner Kei Komuro.

Mako, who exited Japan’s royal family to marry a commoner, arrived in New York on Sunday, Nov. 14, Japanese public broadcaster NHK reported.

The couple, both 30, who got married on October 26 in a subdued ceremony, departed from Tokyo’s Haneda Airport on Sunday morning.

They will rent an apartment in New York, where Komuro is employed as a clerk at a law firm, according to the NHK.

Mako, who turned 30 in October, announced her engagement with Komuro four years ago. But their union has been plagued by years of controversy and public disapproval over a money scandal involving Komuro’s mother.

In an effort to appease a disapproving public, Mako turned down a one-off million-dollar payout from the government, which she was entitled to as a departing royal.

At a press event after their marriage ceremony last month, the newlyweds apologized for any trouble caused by their marriage and expressed gratitude to those who supported them.

“To me, Kei is a very important, indispensable existence,” Mako said.

“Mako and I would like to build a warm, nice family,” Komuro said. “Happy times, unhappy times, we would like to be together, and we will be indispensable to each other.”