Princess Mako met Komuro about five years ago through a friend at International Christian University, which they both attended, and later accepted a marriage proposal from him, according to an agency source.
The couple, who are both 25, met at a restaurant in Tokyo's Shibuya about five years ago at a party to talk about studying overseas, and they have been dating several times a month recently, NHK said. The Imperial Household Law stipulates that females of the Imperial Family relinquish their title from birth, official membership in the Imperial Family, and allowance from the state upon marriage to a commoner.
The last to do so was Princess Mako's aunt, Sayako, the only daughter of Emperor Akhito, when she married town planner Yoshiki Kuroda in 2005.
At a hastily arranged press conference after the news was first reported by public broadcaster NHK, agency chief Shinichiro Yamamoto said the agency was planning to make an announcement of their engagement at the "right timing" after taking necessary steps, and that it was regrettable that it was reported before then.
It was while in university that Komuro played the "Prince of the Sea" in a beach tourism campaign for the city of Fujisawa, south of Tokyo.
Princess Mako now works as a researcher at a museum at the University of Tokyo three days a week.
Japan's Princess Mako is giving up her royal status - all in the name of love.
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Unlike royalty in Great Britain and other European countries, the emperor and his family tend to be cloistered, although they travel overseas and appear at cultural events. People are likely to see Mako's marriage as a celebration, although the rituals will continue to be tightly orchestrated.
The main opposition Democratic Party has been calling for deeper debate on enabling princesses to establish their own branches within the imperial family after they marry commoners as a way to cope with the shrinking size of the royal family.
Kei Komuro, center, is interviewed by reporters in Tokyo Wednesday, May 17 2017.
Princess Mako enrolled at International Christian University in Tokyo in April 2010, becoming the first imperial family member to attend the university.
He repeatedly declined to comment on a slew of questions about his relationship with the princess and even on some questions about himself. In addition to Mako, there are six other unmarried princesses who will lose their status if they marry commoners. Komuro has been a resident of Kohoku Ward in Yokohama, near Tokyo.
Princess Mako is 25 years old.
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