Former Japanese Princess Mako's Husband Komuro Passes New York Bar Exam After Three Attempts

Married in October Last Year to Naruhito Emperor's Nephew Mako
Mako, Who Lost Princess Status, Lives with Komuro in Manhattan Apartment, New York

Gei Gomu (left) and Mako, former princess. Photo by AP Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyunjung] Kei Komuro (31), the husband of former Princess Mako (30), niece of Emperor Naruhito (?仁), has passed the New York State Bar Exam in the United States.

According to foreign media reports including NHK and Kyodo News on the 21st, Komuro, who married former Princess Mako in October last year, first took the New York State Bar Exam that same month but failed. He took the exam again in February this year but failed once more, finally achieving the honor of passing on his third attempt. The New York State Board of Law Examiners reported that the pass rate for this year's exam held in July was 66%, while the pass rate for repeat takers like Komuro was 23%.

Mako is the eldest daughter of Crown Prince Fumihito (文仁, 56), Akishino-no-miya (秋篠宮), who is first in line to the throne. Former Princess Mako and Komuro were classmates at Japan's International Christian University (ICU) and, after a long relationship, became engaged in 2018. However, their path to marriage was not smooth. Due to family issues such as Komuro’s father’s self-immolation and financial problems involving Komuro’s mother receiving large sums of money from a man Komuro had dated, opposition to their marriage surged within Japan. As a result, Komuro postponed the wedding and went to study in the United States. Former Princess Mako was reportedly diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) due to sensationalized media coverage of her private life in Japan.

Despite this, Mako ultimately went ahead with the marriage and lost her royal status. She also declined the maximum 152.5 million yen (approximately 1.46 billion won) allowance for maintaining dignity after leaving the imperial family.

Currently, Mako and Komuro are living an ordinary life. Former Princess Mako was spotted by paparazzi shopping alone without a bodyguard. The couple resides in an apartment in Hell’s Kitchen, one of the central areas of Manhattan, New York. This is a luxury rental apartment developed by an American real estate company and Japan’s Mitsui Fudosan. They rent a one-bedroom unit with a monthly rent of a staggering $4,809 (approximately 6.9 million won). Komuro is working as a legal assistant at a law firm.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.