Former Japanese princess Mako Komuro, who is Emperor Naruhito's niece, has had her first child. The Imperial Household Agency confirmed the birth but did not share the baby's exact birth date or gender, because Mako is no longer a royal. Mako married Kei Komuro, a regular citizen, in 2021 and gave up her royal status, as Japan’s Imperial House Law requires. The couple lives in New York, where Kei works as a lawyer. Even though the birth involved a former royal, the palace decided to confirm the news after it was reported by the media. Mako's parents and siblings were very happy and wished the family well. Mako and her husband met at Tokyo’s International Christian University, but their wedding was delayed for four years because of a financial problem involving Kei Komuro’s mother. Mako also chose not to take the dowry, which she had a right to receive when she left the imperial family.