00:00Princess Mako of Japan had to wait three years to fulfill her dream of getting married
00:05with the young Keiko Muro, whom she had fallen in love with at university.
00:09But that was not a wedding like any other.
00:12To be with him, she renounced her titles, her privileges, and her place within the
00:16Japanese imperial family.
00:18She went from being a princess to living an anonymous life in the United States.
00:23Do you want to know the story of the so-called Meghan Markle of Japan?
00:26We'll tell you about it.
00:27Princess Mako was born into one of the most secretive families in the world.
00:32She is the niece of Emperor Naruhito and the daughter of Prince Akishino, first in line to the throne.
00:37succession to the chrysanthemum throne.
00:39His destiny was tied to tradition and the obligations of the crown, until
00:44She fell in love.
00:45In 2017, his engagement to Keiko Muro, a young man he had met during
00:51his university years in Tokyo.
00:52The young woman appeared in the media alongside her fiancé, happy and excited.
00:59But plans went awry and the wedding scheduled for 2018 was delayed by two years.
01:05The Imperial Household Agency announced that the wedding was postponed due to a lack of preparation.
01:10Although some media outlets pointed to a problem related to the mother's finances
01:14Kei.
01:15The young man left to study Law in New York and did not return until 2021.
01:20But despite the criticism and media pressure, Mako and Kei decided to go ahead with
01:25their wedding plans.
01:26The wedding finally took place in October 2021.
01:30Mako said goodbye to his family at the gates of his residence, a scene marked by the
01:35symbolism.
01:36She was saying goodbye to the life she had known since birth.
01:39Far from being a grand ceremony, the couple registers their marriage in the registry
01:44civil.
01:45The young Mako was stripped of her princess titles and stopped using the title.
01:50of His Royal Highness.
01:51But she also rejected the one million euros that is granted to women of the imperial family
01:56when they marry a commoner.
01:58Just like Harry and Meghan did, the couple settled in the United States, specifically
02:02in New York.
02:03But unlike the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, they lead an anonymous life in the city of the
02:07skyscraper.
02:09So much so, that in May 2025 the imperial family confirmed a rumor that had been circulating for days
02:14circulating.
02:15Mako and Keiko Muro had become parents.
02:18Mako had to face controversy and the weight of tradition, but ultimately
02:22He was able to choose the life he wanted.
02:25Thank you!
02:28Thank you!
02:30Thank you!
02:31Thank you!
