NEW YORK: Mako Komuro, a former Japanese princess, and her husband, Kei, arrived in the United States on Sunday.

Mako and Kei, both 30, departed from Tokyo International Airport at Haneda earlier in the day for New York, where Kei works for a law firm as an employee.

At Haneda airport, where about 100 members of the press were gathered, some people using the airport talked to Mako and wished her happiness. The former princess smiled and made a bow.

In 2018, Kei left Japan to study at Fordham University’s law school in New York. He returned to Japan on Sept. 27 to marry Mako, the first daughter of Crown Prince Akishino and Crown Princess Kiko.

After the couple got married on Oct. 26, the two lived in an apartment in Tokyo and made preparations for starting their new life in New York. They also attended the funeral of Tatsuhiko Kawashima, Mako’s grandfather and professor emeritus at Gakushuin University, who died on Nov. 4.

Kei failed the New York state bar examination in July. According to informed sources, Kei told those close to him that he will take the exam again next February.

The couple was initially scheduled to hold their wedding ceremony in November 2018, but their marriage was postponed due to a financial dispute involving Komuro’s mother and her former fiance.

On Friday, Kei met with the former fiance of his mother, apparently to have discussions about the financial dispute. The two sides confirmed that the matter has now been settled ultimately, according to Kei’s lawyer. Kei had indicated his intention to pay settlement money.

JIJI Press