Former Princess Mako Gives Birth to First Baby
On May 30, the Imperial Household Agency announced that Mako Komuro, 33, has given birth to her first child. The news was shared by Naomasa Yoshida, Grand Steward of the Crown Prince's Household, during a regular press conference.
Mako is the eldest daughter of Crown Prince Fumihito and Crown Princess Kiko, and the niece of Emperor Naruhito. She has two younger siblings, Princess Kako and Prince Hisahito. According to Yoshida, they are delighted by the news and wish her family continued happiness. Mako hugs her sister, Princess Kako, as their parents look on, before leaving the family home at the Akasaka Estate on October 26, 2021. (©Sankei by Noriaki Sato)
In 2021, Mako married Kei Komuro, a former college classmate and a commoner, thereby relinquishing her royal status as required by Japan's Imperial House Law. The couple later moved to New York, where Kei Komuro now works as a lawyer.
The agency has not disclosed the baby's gender or the exact date of birth. Mako and Kei Komuro on September 3, 2017, at the Akasaka East Residence. (©Sankei by Kengo Matsumoto)
( Read the related article in Japanese . )
Author: The Sankei Shimbun
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Japan Forward
18 hours ago
- Japan Forward
Everything Has a Beginning and End in Ippon-jime Culture
Everything in Japan must have an official beginning and end, an ippon-jime , from drinking to sports to school trips and meetings. There are many reasons for this, but here are some theories. "Yooooo-o Clap!" That's the sound of 20 salarymen in suits suddenly yelling and clapping in unison. Ippon-jime sounds like a karate move, and might startle the casual foreign observer enjoying a beer in an izakaya-style pub. Like a Spanish tapas bar, izakayas are the ubiquitous post-work watering holes offering delicious food and cheap drinks. Indeed, izakaya, literally, means "place to stay and drink." They are full of office workers, students, and middle-aged men avoiding the early train home. Drinking in izakayas certainly ruins the image of the Japanese as quiet, shy, polite, or demure. In fact, izakayas are where Japanese discard the formalities of the office, relax, discuss frankly, conclude business transactions, and sometimes go wild. An Izakaya meal in celebration. (©Daniel Moore) A typical izakaya meal is part of the experience. (©Daniel Moore) There is one drastic difference from Western drinking, though. Even a raucous drinking party, especially a work function, must have an official beginning and ending with a formal aisatsu or greeting. No one can drink until everyone holds something (typically nama beeru ) in their hand and the kanpai (toast) is announced, often with a short speech from the organizer or highest-ranking member. Ikkai shime mashouka ? "Shall we close this party?" is a phrase to indicate the party's conclusion. Unity remains one of the most prized values in Japanese culture. The members of a company or team may be individuals, but performing something in unison brings them together. At a drinking party, unity is established through the kanpai and shime , but there are also other ways. Most Japanese companies have stricter dress codes than Western companies, so everyone appears more or less the same. Many companies also perform a chorei , or morning greeting, to initiate the workday. In some, they chant the company song and do radio taiso (an odd-looking stretching and exercise routine often broadcast over loudspeakers) to raise motivation and keep employees healthy. The same goes for schools, where at the start and end of the day, everyone stands up and straightens their posture (called kiritsu ). Then they bow, asking, then thanking the teacher for the instruction. From start to finish, the group dines together al fresco. (©Daniel Moore) Japan is changing, though. Kids are not drinking, and managers cannot force them to. My friend told me about a co-worker who refused to attend a company drinking party for free, agreeing to go only if they paid her hourly wage. Abstaining from a drinking party or asking such a question would have been unspeakable a few years ago. Perhaps the custom of opening and closing every event is fading with it. For those who still attend drinking parties, another reason for ippon-jime is knowing when it is socially acceptable to leave. After the official function, there is almost always a nijikai , or second party. However, anyone wanting to leave finds an excuse to go home after the first party. Lower-ranking members at an office party must pour drinks for the higher-ups, so they tend to leave first. I have heard excuses, including "I have work the next day," "my kids are at home," and "my husband needs dinner." Any excuse will do. Just like staying at work until the boss leaves, leaving a party before the official ending is socially awkward. One's official duties are typically finished at the end of the first party. When presenting a business card, which is still required for doing business in Japan, people introduce themselves as belonging to the company. If I worked for Google, I would be "Google no Daniel," meaning Daniel of Google. In a work, school, or team setting, Japanese effectively represent the company, school, or team where they belong. And they are expected to behave accordingly. Any inappropriate behavior or negative perception reflects poorly on the institution. However, individuals still represent themselves before the official greeting of an event, work day, or competition. They are free to behave as they choose. Within the hours of the opening and closing ceremonies, however, each one becomes part of the collective. They are expected to look around to conform and behave according to custom. Growing up playing sports, the phrase, "You are still at practice until you reach home," was repeated often. It served as a reminder not to mess around while still representing the team. The practice of having an opening and closing greeting delineates when you are on and off duty, so to speak. Part of the group stands for a photo before passing under the "shime nawa" of a shrine. (©Daniel Moore) Finally, a Japanese friend suggested another reason for having a beginning and an end to everything. In Shinto, Japan's native animistic belief system, there is the concept of the shime nawa . Using the same word ( shime ) to describe concluding a drinking party, the shime nawa is a rope tied across torii gates to delineate the spiritual and secular worlds. ] Entering a Shinto shrine by passing under the shime nawa signals to be respectful because one is entering a special place presided over by the Shinto kami . Similarly, within the lines of an official function, one should behave according to the rules. In the case of Shinto, having a visible reminder helps people understand how to act. Beginnings and endings go much further back than Japanese corporate drinking culture. Despite custom, following Daniel's style, the group sits in unstated vertical rank. (©Daniel Moore) I live in a gray zone of knowing Japanese culture inside and out, but only instilling the aspects that suit me. For example, I use business cards and have an official title because I own a company. However, I introduce myself as Daniel. No company, position, or even last name required. People remember me because I'm a foreigner who speaks fluent Japanese, so I feel no need to explain further. I can also walk out of a drinking party without feeling too guilty. I apologize, but ultimately, I do what I want. Succeeding long-term as a foreigner living in Japan is ultimately about balancing understanding and conforming to the culture, and not caring about what people think. Nevertheless, I enjoy performing ippon-jime . It is a fun way to end a drinking party. I even started using it to conclude the official end of a tour. Ultimately, I believe the culture of ippon-jime , along with societal and work expectations, makes Japan a great place to live and a terrible place to work ー at least if you work in a Japanese company. Because people respect their work and feel pressure to perform, Japan's service quality is exceptional. No one can slack off because during work hours, everyone else is working just as hard. Ah - and finally, an end to the adventure. (©Daniel Moore) However, if you are the one providing the service, it means long hours, low wages, and navigating the complex social structure of a Japanese company. Figuring out a way to live in Japan without working for a Japanese company is something I have been fortunate enough to do. It is the best way to get the best of both worlds. Then you don't have to worry so much about how you perform during the opening and closing ceremonies. Author: Daniel Moore Learn more about the wild side of Japan through Daniel's essays . Leave questions or comments in the section below, or reach Daniel through Active Travel Japan .
Japan Forward
2 days ago
- Japan Forward
Former Princess Mako Gives Birth to First Baby
On May 30, the Imperial Household Agency announced that Mako Komuro, 33, has given birth to her first child. The news was shared by Naomasa Yoshida, Grand Steward of the Crown Prince's Household, during a regular press conference. Mako is the eldest daughter of Crown Prince Fumihito and Crown Princess Kiko, and the niece of Emperor Naruhito. She has two younger siblings, Princess Kako and Prince Hisahito. According to Yoshida, they are delighted by the news and wish her family continued happiness. Mako hugs her sister, Princess Kako, as their parents look on, before leaving the family home at the Akasaka Estate on October 26, 2021. (©Sankei by Noriaki Sato) In 2021, Mako married Kei Komuro, a former college classmate and a commoner, thereby relinquishing her royal status as required by Japan's Imperial House Law. The couple later moved to New York, where Kei Komuro now works as a lawyer. The agency has not disclosed the baby's gender or the exact date of birth. Mako and Kei Komuro on September 3, 2017, at the Akasaka East Residence. (©Sankei by Kengo Matsumoto) ( Read the related article in Japanese . ) Author: The Sankei Shimbun
Japan Forward
4 days ago
- Japan Forward
Rare Bonsai Collection Shines at Osaka Expo Grounds
このページを 日本語 で読む From May 19 to 22, the Expo 2025 Japanese Bonsai and Suiseki Exhibition brought together a stunning array of bonsai at the Osaka-Kansai Expo site. Roughly 130 prized specimens from across Japan were on display. Among them was Yoroikake no Matsu (Armor-Hanging Pine), a black pine once treasured by Tokugawa Yoshinobu. Yoshinobu was the 15th and final shogun of the Edo period. As bonsai garners growing interest overseas, the exhibit drew a large number of international visitors. A Global Revival Standing approximately 120 centimeters tall, Yoroikake no Matsu was the tallest tree in the collection. It captivated audiences with its powerful presence. According to the exhibition's organizing committee, global interest in bonsai surged following its appearance at Expo '70 in Osaka. This year, a few of those same bonsai made a rare return to public display. A bonsai shown at Expo '70 returns to the spotlight. May 19, Yumeshima, Konohana Ward, Osaka (©Sankei by Kan Emori) In recent years, bonsai has seen a surge in popularity among young people around the world. In 2023, Japan's bonsai exports reached ¥920 million JPY (approximately $6.3 million USD, nearly double the figure from 2019. Bo Pett, 29, who traveled from Australia to visit the exhibition, said his attraction to bonsai began through Japanese pop culture. He described bonsai as a fascinating and powerful cultural tradition, and mentioned that he had bought a pot and pruning tools with plans to try it at home. A bonsai featured during Game 1 of the 92nd Hulic Cup Kisei shogi title match in 2021 was also on display. May 19, Yumeshima, Konohana Ward, Osaka (©Sankei by Kan Emori) "We hope this exhibition helps spread the appeal of bonsai culture," said Hiroki Miura, chair of the exhibition committee. Author: Asuka Ishibashi, The Sankei Shimbun Asuka Ishibashi, bonsai, Oaka Expo, Expo 70, Tokugawa Yoshinobu, このページを 日本語 で読む
