<h3>Studying in the U.K., an informal engagement conference, and her last official duties</h3>
<p>Four years have passed since the unofficial announcement of their engagement. After many twists and turns, Mako, 30, and her husband Kei Komuro, 30, have begun a &#8220;new life. With their marriage, they left the Imperial Family. From today, she will start her new married life as a &#8220;normal woman&#8221; in New York. Let&#8217;s take a look back at the 30 years of Mako&#8217;s life as a member of the Imperial Family with her treasured photos.</p>
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<h3>Studied at the University of Edinburgh in the U.K. in 2012</h3>
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<figure id="attachment_213050" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 1500px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-213050"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="75b8971b"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2021/11/2012082400104_re.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-213050" class="wp-caption-text">In 2012, Mako departed for an exchange program at the University of Edinburgh in the U.K., where she majored in art history for eight months.</figcaption></figure>
<p>Mako and Mr. Komuro first met in 2012. Their first encounter was in 2012, when they sat near each other at an information session for exchange students. In August of the same year, just before she left to study at the University of Edinburgh in the UK, they began dating. In &#8217;13, Komuro proposed to Mako, and in &#8217;17, they held an informal press conference to announce their engagement.</p>
<p><strong> &#8220;Mako was very concerned about how she was perceived by the public. There were times when she was hurt by the public&#8217;s opposition to her marriage. Seeing Mako&#8217;s strong determination after overcoming four years of separation, Prince Akishino and Princess Kiko approved the marriage.</strong></p>
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<p>What kind of life will Mako lead in her new home of New York?</p>
<p><strong> What kind of life will Mako have in her new home of New York? &#8220;There is no royal family or royal family in the U.S., and there is a strong yearning for the royal family. I&#8217;m sure she will be welcomed. Mako&#8217;s master&#8217;s degree in museum studies is at an internationally recognized level, so I think she will be able to work as a curator. She may also be in demand for lectures. As a former female member of the Imperial Family, I believe that Princess Mako will create a new way of life in the future.</strong></p>
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<h3>Graduated from ICU in 2002</h3>
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<figure id="attachment_213052" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 1500px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-213052"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="9e17d0d7"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2021/11/2014032600059_re.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-213052" class="wp-caption-text">On March 26, 2002, Mako graduated from ICU (International Christian University) and began to engage in full-scale official duties as an adult member of the Imperial Family.</figcaption></figure>
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<h3>&#8217;15 Official visit to El Salvador</h3>
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<figure id="attachment_213054" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 1500px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-213054"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="f91a57ed"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2021/11/jpp020411613_re.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-213054" class="wp-caption-text">In 2003, Mako made her first solo official visit abroad to El Salvador in Central America. As you can see, she greeted the president in kimono.</figcaption></figure>
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<h3>Observation of Princess Eugene&#8217;s Sports Day in &#8217;16</h3>
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<figure id="attachment_213055" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 1500px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-213055"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="c19661d2"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2021/11/0222964_06_re.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-213055" class="wp-caption-text">In 2004, she and Kiko observed Princess Eugene&#8217;s field day. They cheered and applauded as Princess Eugene ran as hard as she could.</figcaption></figure>
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<h3>Visiting the King and Queen of Bhutan in &#8217;17</h3>
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<figure id="attachment_213053" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 1500px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-213053"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="ec31515e"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2021/11/2017060700018_re.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-213053" class="wp-caption-text">In &#8217;17, Mako paid an official visit to the King and Queen of Bhutan. She wore a kira, a traditional Bhutanese costume, and tried her hand at the traditional bow and arrow.</figcaption></figure>
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<h3>&#8217;17: Mako continues to work hard on her official duties after the news of her engagement</h3>
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<figure id="attachment_213056" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 2598px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-213056"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="968f43ef"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2021/11/2017063000570.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-213056" class="wp-caption-text">In &#8217;17, Mako attended the annual New Year&#8217;s &#8220;Uta-kai-shachi-no-gigi&#8221; ceremony. Even after her engagement to Mr. Komuro was reported, she actively participated in public affairs.</figcaption></figure>
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<h3>&#8217;17, Smiling engagement informal press conference with Kei Komuro</h3>
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<figure id="attachment_213057" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 2500px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-213057"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="bbb845f2"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2021/11/2017090300234_re.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-213057" class="wp-caption-text">The informal engagement press conference with Kei Komuro held on September 3, 2005. Mako said with a smile, &#8220;At first, I was attracted by [Mr. Komuro&#8217;s] sunny smile.</figcaption></figure>
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<h3>&#8217;21: Mako performs her last official duties as a member of the Imperial Family.</h3>
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<figure id="attachment_213058" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 2500px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-213058"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="f3ad3980"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2021/11/5a9309c3c0df0ba4a1033e2e95e82d8a.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-213058" class="wp-caption-text">On September 30, 2009, Mr. Komuro delivered a video message at the &#8220;International Ceramics Festival Mino &#8217;21,&#8221; his last official event.</figcaption></figure>
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<h3>&#8217;21 Participated in the last palace ritual</h3>
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<figure id="attachment_213059" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 2500px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-213059"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="11a32ec2"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2021/11/0006_original_re.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-213059" class="wp-caption-text">On October 17, 2009, Mako and Kako attended the final imperial ritual at the Kashikokoro, the Imperial Palace.</figcaption></figure>
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<h3>A farewell embrace with Kako on their wedding day in 2009.</h3>
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<figure id="attachment_213061" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 1500px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-213061"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="b8a87048"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2021/11/kako_re.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-213061" class="wp-caption-text">On October 26, 2009, Mako gave her final greetings to Prince and Princess Akishino and Princess Kako, and left the Akasaka Imperial Palace where she had spent 30 years. As they parted, Mako embraced Kako, bringing tears to the eyes of the nation.</figcaption></figure>
<p>From &#8220;FRIDAY&#8221; November 12, 2021 issue</p>


 Imperial Household Agency, JMPA, Jiji Press, Kyodo News

 Four years have passed since the engagement announcement. After many twists and turns, Mako has begun a "new life" with her husband, Kei Komuro. This is a look back at her life as a member of the Imperial Family, from her university days when she began dating Mr. Komuro, to the unofficial engagement conference, to her final official duties.

Today, Mako finally arrives in the United States… 30 years of living as a member of the Imperial Family

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