Japan's Former Princess Mako Is Working at the Metropolitan Museum of Art

Mako Komuro, formerly known as Princess Mako, left Japan and gave up her royal title after marrying her college sweetheart last year. Mako, the eldest daughter of Japan's Crown Prince Akishino and Crown Princess Kiko, moved to New York City in November 2021 with her husband Kei Komuro.

Now, Japan Times reported Mako is assisting curators at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in an unpaid internship capacity. Per the Japan Times, the former Japanese princess is working on an exhibition of hanging-scroll paintings by Okinawan artist Yamada Shinzan, "inspired by the life of Ippen (1239-1289), a monk who traveled around Japan during the Kamakura Period (1192-1333) introducing Buddhism to the masses by chanting prayers while dancing."

Mako graduated with a degree in art and cultural heritage from the International Christian University in Tokyo, studied art history at the University of Edinburgh, and received her master's in art museum and gallery studies from the University of Leicester. While still a working royal, she also worked at University of Tokyo's University Museum.

A former Met curator told People, "She's qualified and probably handling pieces in the collection. In general, it's work which requires a great deal of preparation and often means spending a lot of time in the library." Mako isn't alone in growing up royal and pursuing a career in the art world; Britain's Princess Eugenie is an associate director at a London art gallery.

Mako's job is reportedly unpaid, but could turn into a full time job. When she left the royal family, Mako chose to give up a dowry of around $1.4 million, making her the first female imperial family member since World War II to opt out of this payment when marrying a commoner.

"Kei is irreplaceable for me. For us, marriage is a necessary choice to live while cherishing our hearts," Mako said during a press conference. The media scrutiny around her decision was so extreme that she was diagnosed with PTSD prior to their wedding.

Mako's husband Komuro, who attended Fordham Law School, has been clerking for a law firm while he studied to retake the New York bar exam. He reportedly took the exam in February, which means he will find out whether or not he passed in the coming months.

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