In a groundbreaking move, Princess Mako of Japan has married a nonroyal individual and is now set to depart from the Japanese royal family.

The marriage has triggered debates on the conduct expected from modern Japanese royals, as well as issues concerning gender equality and human rights within the world’s oldest continuous monarchy.

The controversy surrounding the union resulted in a three-year delay in the wedding proceedings.

As a result, the couple opted to forego any elaborate ceremony, opting instead to officially record their marriage at a local government office this past Tuesday.

In light of concerns that public funds could be misused to support a contentious marriage, the princess chose not to accept the customary sum of approximately $1.3 million given to female members obligated by law to leave the royal family upon marrying a commoner.

Following the marriage, Princess Mako assumed the name Mako Komuro, adopting her husband’s surname, Kei Komuro.

Both individuals are 30 years old, with the former princess being the elder of two daughters of Crown Prince Fumihito and the niece of Emperor Naruhito.

Kei Komuro, who recently returned from New York where he is employed at a law firm, undertook and passed the state bar exam and attained a law degree from Fordham University Law School.

The couple intends to relocate to New York in the near future.

After officially registering their marriage, Princess Mako and Kei Komuro delivered prepared speeches and provided written responses to five pre-submitted questions posed by the media.

The format of the event was impromptu, reportedly due to Mako’s distress upon discovering misinformation within some of the queries.

Expressing gratitude towards supporters while addressing critics, Princess Mako conveyed her dismay at the dissemination of inaccurate information as facts.

Though she did not specify the nature of the falsehoods, much of the controversy revolves around a financial dispute involving Kei Komuro’s mother and her former fiancé over roughly $35,000.

Takeshi Hara, an expert on Japan’s imperial system at the Open University of Japan, remarked that the press conference gave the impression that the couple prioritized defending their position without addressing inconvenient questions.

Notably, a recent survey conducted by the Mainichi Shimbun newspaper revealed that 38% of respondents approve of the marriage, while 35% oppose it.

Historian Ken Ruoff of Portland State University highlighted that those in opposition should acknowledge the constitutional right of all Japanese citizens to choose their partners.

Throughout history, royal marriages were traditionally arranged without considering the desires of the individuals involved until the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

The postwar emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko reshaped the role of the imperial family by emphasizing empathy towards the populace through prayer and direct engagement with citizens.

Princess Mako’s decision to prioritize her personal life over her public duties appears to have unsettled certain members of the public.

With only three heirs to the throne and a limited number of family members, the Japanese royal family has significantly reduced in size over the years, retaining its male-only succession rule despite historical female rulers.

Efforts to amend the law to allow female ascension to the throne have faced resistance from conservative factions.

As Princess Mako steps away from the royal institution, parallels have been drawn to the “Megxit” of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle from the British monarchy.

Ken Ruoff noted that many non-heir royals may perceive the strict constraints imposed on them as outweighing the benefits associated with royalty, reflecting changing attitudes towards monarchical responsibilities.

Contributions to this article were made by Chie Kobayashi from Kyoto.