What to know about the Japanese royal family as Princess Mako prepares to bow out
ABC News
Japan's continuous hereditary monarchy is believed to be the world's oldest. Princess Mako is planning to bow out.
Princess Mako, niece to Japan's enthroned emperor, Naruhito, is planning to leave the imperial family, moving out of her family's estate on Oct. 26 when her marriage to Fordham-educated Kei Komuro is officially registered.
Female members of Japan's imperial family must renounce their royalty when marrying a commoner. After the high-profile scandal surrounding their courtship, Japanese royalty is being forced to consider not just its dwindling numbers but its future.
Komuro's mother, involved in an unresolved financial dispute, has been portrayed as a gold digger in tabloids, which have harshly criticized the couple. Princess Mako, an imperial household spokesperson told ABC News, is now suffering from PTSD because of the scrutiny.
Some among the nation's citizenry are questioning whether maintaining an emperor as a living symbol of the state is still necessary. In 2019, the aging but popular Emperor Akihito abdicated, citing his age and declining health. His son, Naruhito, assumed the throne to reserved fanfare.
