Bucking tradition, Japanese Princess Mako marries controversial fiance, loses royal status

TOKYO — When Japanese Princess Mako announced her engagement to college sweetheart Kei Komuro at a 2017 news conference, the couple giggled as they recounted the story of how they fell in love.

On Tuesday, at their first public appearance since, the couple sat at arm’s length and somberly read a joint statement explaining why they had registered their marriage earlier in the day. It was a stark reminder of how much public sentiment has soured over the past four years.