Engagement & Marriage of Princess Mako and Kei Komuro: September 2017 - 2021

[rominet09]

Dismal... are they really in 2018 ?????

 

[Tatiana Maria]

On July 17th, the IHA issued a letter to Fordham University to clarify that Kei Komuro is not Princess Mako's fiancé. Based on Imperial tradition, the Nosai-no-Gi ceremony formalizes an engagement.

Source: Sankei

I suppose that answers my question whether Fordham University is cooperating with the Imperial Household Agency.

When two people intend to marry (as the IHA said they do), it is accurate to characterize them as "fiancé/es" in English. Doesn't the Japanese press even use the Japanese term for "fiancé" to refer to Kei?

Awkward… I wish the IHA left it alone. News about Kei's law school plans was starting to slow. Now the agency's letter puts the spotlight back on Kei and his limbo status.

Yes, why was the letter issued two weeks after the announcement (infighting once again)?

This is so awkward... It's like they are emphasising this point as a preamble for the marriage not going forward in the future, because it was never 'formalized'.

Wow, that's bad. They organized a press conference to announce they would get engaged.

The IHA really wants the two of them to break up. I feel so sorry for the couple who are clearly in love but their powerful surroundings are in attack mode and might not rest until the relationship is broken off.

Agreed. On the other hand, perhaps the letter was intended mainly to blame Fordham University for making the announcement without the consent of the IHA, and/or to make clear before Kei Komuro enters the United States that he is a private citizen and does not speak for the Japanese imperial family.

I wonder how the letter will be interpreted by the university, considering that it is foreign and has never (I assume) engaged with the IHA or the politics of the imperial family. Hopefully Kei Komuro's status at the school will not be affected.

 

[M. Payton]

Wow......what century are they living in? This is not the dark ages here IHA. I have been following this family since the crown prince couple and what goes on in this family with the control of the IHA is not of this world even in the dark ages I suspect....very sad for this lovely young couple that seem so in love. Princess Mako seems like such a well bred lovely young lady to have this happen to her is just sad and wrong ........no escape for her ever from the clutches of IHA.......

 

[HereditaryPrincess]

Oh wow, this is awkward to say the least. So does that mean the wedding won't be happening now? They seemed like such a nice couple and well suited for one another, it's a shame.
The IHA really is going to die out if they continue to have such rigid and outdated laws.

 

[O-H Anglophile]

Oh wow, this is awkward to say the least. So does that mean the wedding won't be happening now? They seemed like such a nice couple and well suited for one another, it's a shame.
The IHA really is going to die out if they continue to have such rigid and outdated laws.

Unfortunately, the IHA seems to have much more power than the Emperor.

 

[Tatiana Maria]

The opinions of the IHA and the Emperor may or may not differ. Emperor Akihito prefers to uphold the older ways in some matters. While the Koizumi government was drawing up proposals to introduce gender equal succession, he signaled that he wanted to have a grandson to succeed as emperor.

 

[M. Payton]

What a strange request for want a grandson like get one for me please.....Does he not know that when a person is born it is not anyone's choice on that gender they are going to have? I have always liked him and thought well of him yet that saying of wanting a certain gender is just arrogant to me. Yes I know about the 2nd son's little boy and that has always disturbed me about this family yet gave it a pass and then found the attitude that like women are of no importance except to bear children and heaven forbid if not male........I would not last in a society like that at all......head would be gone quickly no doubt........?

 

[Al_bina]

The opinions of the IHA and the Emperor may or may not differ. Emperor Akihito prefers to uphold the older ways in some matters. While the Koizumi government was drawing up proposals to introduce gender equal succession, he signaled that he wanted to have a grandson to succeed as emperor.

Right you are. Prime Minister Koizumi was chastised for arrogance. I was taken aback by NHK commentators' harsh, even vicious, criticism of Mr Koizumi's suggestions. They said that he forgot his place and was not supposed to initiate a debate on the issue.

 

[Prisma]

It's in the New York Times...

Urg... the IHA could have ignored the Fordham University's blog post and let Kei begin his studying aboard quietly. But no, their reactionary behavior made the situation worst. Mako's 2-week Brazil trip would have buried Kei's law school move.

He’s Supposed to Marry a Japanese Princess. Just Don’t Call Him Her Fiancé. - The New York Times

[...]

On Thursday, in response to a request by Japan’s Imperial Household Agency, which oversees the ceremonial functions and protocols of the royal family, Fordham removed a phrase from a news release that had trumpeted Mr. Komuro, a paralegal in Tokyo, as the “fiancé of Princess Mako of Japan.”

[...]

In a statement, Fordham Law said it had decided to amend the news release after consulting with both the agency and Mr. Komuro.

“Out of respect for the long traditions and practices of the Imperial Household Agency, we decided to remove the word ‘fiancé’ from the announcement because the betrothal ceremony has not yet been held,” it said.

Japanese tabloids speculated that either the Imperial Household Agency had nudged Mr. Komuro out of the country or that he had decided to flee to the United States to escape continuous prying by the news media. Commentators on social media were swift to criticize Mr. Komuro’s motives.

[...]

Mihoko Suzuki, an English professor at the University of Miami who has written about monarchies in Europe, suggested that both the Imperial Household Agency and the Japanese public were being far too tough on the couple.

[...] the negative coverage of Princess Mako’s fiancé and his mother seems unfairly aggressive.”

She added that the couple had been "victimized by the scandal-mongering tabloid press, and the Imperial Household Agency is reacting to the avalanche of negative press — apparently since last fall — by walking back on the engagement." [...]

Before there was the whiff of scandal, the Japanese public seemed to warm to Princess Mako’s choice of her college sweetheart, with swoony coverage of the couple describing how they had met and their dating habits.

[...]

In one hint that the princess may be preparing for a long-distance relationship, the Imperial Household Agency’s schedule of her trip this week to Brazil showed a stopover on the way home — in New York.

 

[Prisma]

That stopover during Princess Mako's return from Brazil to Japan was simply a stopover. Kei isn't in New York yet.

On August 4th, Kei was picked up at Akasaka-Mitsuke station and driven to the Akishino residence. He had dinner with the Akishino family, staying for 2 hours and leaving around 9pm. It seems he saying farewell before his departure. According to stakeholders, he leaves for the U.S. next week and his last day at Okuno & Partners law firm was July 30th.

Sources: news.tbs.co.jp, news.tv-asahi.co.jp, news24.jp

 

[iceflower]

.

Kei Komuro was pictured at Narita airport today, August 7, on his way to New York:


** Pic 1 ** Pic 2 **

 

[M. Payton]

Hummmmmm, not a very happy man on his way to a great school in the US, in fact he looks quite angry to me. Very sad what has happened to to him and Princess Mako.

 

[Prisma]

Yea...well, it's understandable. The media attention is daunting on top of postponing the engagement. He needed police/airport security escort to the gate.

I hope the Japanese media will leave him alone in NY. I also feel for his mother. Only child leaving for 3 years.

 

[M. Payton]

I hope so too that he is left alone, and I so feel for his mother for that is a very long way to go to get that education. I also really really hope that the marriage goes through and that they can withstand the time and distance. I have been a fan of the crown princess long before she married into the royal family and it shudders me to think how the IHA controls the family. I just wonder if they, the IHA had anything to do with this postponement of the marriage. And I wonder if Princess Mako has any way to keep in contact with him while he is away....I would not do good in this royal family at all.......would be running for my life real quick if this happened to me.

Thank you for the video and all the info, I will keep reading what is going on with this couple yet will not be surprised if there is no marriage at all and Princess Mako is engaged to another by her own will or an arranged marriage.

 

[HereditaryPrincess]

I don't blame Mr. Komuro for looking (very) angry. The atmosphere seems so tense in that airport that one could hear a pin drop...
It all seems very Victorian, sending him halfway across the world because he wasn't a "suitable candidate" or whatever for Princess Mako.

 

[Somebody]

Poor guy. I guess the IHA sees this as his opportunity to redeem himself but is extremely harsh on the couple. They have been waiting to get married for a long time and now there is another forced separation of 3 years. It is even harsher considering the fact that Mako will have to leave the imperial family upon marriage but still they want to control whom and when she marries.

 

[Lady Nimue]

I have a Japanese friend and she tells me it is all that people are talking about. Everyone it seems (according to my friend) is appalled at the situation the couple find themselves confronting. Not right.

 

[Poppy]

I feel he is not good enough for the princess. The fact that he and his Mother were/are members of a infamous cult is bad enough! He’s quite a social climber. In my opinion Princesses of the imperial family should marry good families to compensate for their loss of status and income.

 

[Somebody]

Interesting perspective. Apparently Mako loves Kei and that's why she wants to marry him, do you really think it is in her best interest to marry someone else just because he has more money or comes from the 'right' family?

It's not that they just met and announced their engagement in a rush (that's what one of her second cousins did but apparently his family is considered more appropriate); Mako had plenty of time to think about it and was able to convince her family that he was the man she wants to spend her life with. But now some people that only care about the imperial family's image (which she is forced to leave upon marriage - so she is disposable but still needs to live up to their expectations) decided that she is just a puppet that has to listen.

 

[Somebody]

I have a Japanese friend and she tells me it is all that people are talking about. Everyone it seems (according to my friend) is appalled at the situation the couple find themselves confronting. Not right.

I am glad to hear that the Japanese people also see the absurdity of this situation. However, I wonder whether a Japanese man would want to be pitied upon. Isn't that perceived badly?

 

[Prisma]

I feel he is not good enough for the princess. The fact that he and his Mother were/are members of a infamous cult is bad enough! He’s quite a social climber. In my opinion Princesses of the imperial family should marry good families to compensate for their loss of status and income.

Whoa. Isn't that from tabloids? That could easily be false. Kei's an easy target. He's from a single parent home and outside the aristocratic and Gakushuin circles.

Mainichi and Jiji report Prince Akishino and Princess Kiko stopped engagement proceedings. After weekly magazines published Mrs. Komuro's financial troubles, they discussed the coverage with Kei and his mother several times. [-]Kei and his mother said there was no problem and requested to explain the situation at a press conference for public understanding. However, that was denied.[/-] [Correction: the Akishinos wanted the press conference, not the Komuros]

The Akishino couple respect Mako and Kei's desire to marry but feel they cannot proceed under present circumstances. Vice grand steward Yasuhiko Nishimura says the IHA doesn't know exactly what's going on.

Sources: Mainichi, Jiji

ETA: Oh geez, the media followed Kei to the US...

 

[O-H Anglophile]

I am glad to hear that the Japanese people also see the absurdity of this situation. However, I wonder whether a Japanese man would want to be pitied upon. Isn't that perceived badly?

Are the Japanese people feeling pity, or empathy and righteous anger with the IHA?

 

[Prisma]

Correction: The Akishino couple wanted the press conference.

Princess Mako's official engagement preparations cannot proceed: parents - The Mainichi

[...] A factor behind the move is that the fiance's side did not make a public explanation as requested by Prince Akishino and Princess Kiko about weekly magazine reports on "financial trouble" within the Komuro family, according to people familiar with the situation.

[...]

Prince Akishino and Princess Kiko made multiple requests to the Komuros to explain about the reports. They asked the Komuros, who said the matter was "not a problem," to hold a press conference on the subject to seek the public's understanding, but their requests have not been fulfilled. Prince Akishino and Princess Kiko intend to respect the wishes of their daughter and her informal fiance, but apparently judged that preparations cannot go ahead for the official engagement ceremony at this juncture.

Mako's parents demand answers before nuptials can go ahead：The Asahi Shimbun

[...] Fumihito and Kiko were said to have conveyed their concerns to the Komuros that without full clarification of the family's financial affairs, the marriage was unlikely to win an outpouring of public affection.

Sources said Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko have been kept abreast of developments. [...]

Fumihito and Kiko have raised the issue at a number of meetings at their residence with Komuro and his mother since the beginning of this year, several sources said. Mako also attended the meetings, the sources said.

[...]

Fumihito and Kiko want to respect the couple's decision in light of constitutional provisions that state "marriage shall be based only on the mutual consent of both sexes."

At the same time, Mako's parents felt it was imperative that their daughter, as a member of the imperial household, win the blessing of the public.

But as more reports appeared about the financial problems facing the Komuros, Fumihito and Kiko decided to intervene.

They decided the situation could compromise important imperial family rituals that are held to mark an official engagement, culminating in a formal audience with Akihito and Michiko.

For imperial family members, the "nosai no gi" is the highlight of those ceremonies as the families of the groom and bride exchange betrothal gifts, thereby sealing the engagement.

Subsequently, the individual who is to marry an imperial family member must have a formal audience with the emperor and empress.

[...]

Sources said that Komuro has explained to Fumihito and Kiko that the media reports are not correct.

They said if that was the case, Komuro should make a public statement to explain the facts and issue a formal denial.

[...]

 

[Tatiana Maria]

Thanks for all of the video and news, Prisma.

He’s Supposed to Marry a Japanese Princess. Just Don’t Call Him Her Fiancé. - The New York Times

On Twitter, @momimojiko suggested that Mr. Komuro had used his connection to Princess Mako to gain admission and a scholarship from Fordham and its prestigious law school.

“He will betray us again and again in the future,” @momimojiko wrote. “The engagement should be canceled immediately, like tomorrow.”

Another Twitter user, ＠marimo555555, addressed the princess directly. “Mako, why don’t you drop him quickly? Wake up. Rather than waiting for him for three years, it’s better to split up from him and ask your mother to introduce you to a good man.”

Observing comments on social media, it indeed seemed as if a multitude of negative, angry, or insulting statements and stories were being aimed at Kei Komuro and his mother. It's impossible for me to know for sure with my lack of knowledge of Japanese, but the tweets in the New York Times article, and the replies on Fordham University's tweet, suggest the same conclusion:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1016326401409142784

Jul 18
Replying to @FordhamLawNYC
Kei Komuro-san is not fiance of princess of Japan. The Japanese community is not supporting this as well. #FordhamLawNYC misunderstood that he is.

Jul 18
Replying to @FordhamLawNYC
Following this tweet, the Imperial Household Agency disavowed the engagement between Mr. Komuro & Ms. Mako. It seems that they had to publicly state this due to severe pressure from the right-wingers, who consider Mr. Komuro is not appropriate to marry Ms. Mako. –continued

Jul 18
Replying to @FordhamLawNYC
This is #FakeNews Kei Komuro-san is not fiance of princess of Japan. Rumor says he is a #Korean in other words #Zapanese, Fake Japanese. Zapanese people have built up #ComfortWomen. Zapanese people are also supporting Komuro-san to marry to Japan’s princess.

Jul 19
Replying to @FordhamLawNYC
Now so many people are against this person, because of his and his family's disgraceful actions. If this school believes his name would add some kind of positive value onto the school status, that is completely opposite.

Aug 2
Replying to @FordhamLawNYC
Kei Komuro’s full scholarship admission seems unfair to so many who went through a rigorous selection process. He is not a fiancé of princess Mako. Is this admission a back door deal to use royal family’s name? #小室圭 #眞子さま #フォーダム大学 #Fordhamlaw #keikomuro

Aug 3
Replying to @royalguru123 @FordhamLawNYC
I think so too. He is not engaged or fiance. Many Japanese are not supporting him because of his debt and other problems. He could graduated from university thanks to his mother's boyfriend ,who lent more than 4 million, and is not living in his old age comfortably now!!

Aug 5
Replying to @royalguru123 @FordhamLawNYC
Kei Komuro is studying LLM course at Fordham, being awarded the merit scholarship, the Michael M. Martin Scholarship. Kei Komuro doesn't hold any formal qualifications associated with laws in Japan, nor any law degrees, then why is he able to receive? fordham.edu/info/27322/app… …

 

[Poppy]

Whoa. Isn't that from tabloids? That could easily be false. Kei's an easy target. He's from a single parent home and outside the aristocratic and Gakushuin circles.

Mainichi and Jiji report Prince Akishino and Princess Kiko stopped engagement proceedings. After weekly magazines published Mrs. Komuro's financial troubles, they discussed the coverage with Kei and his mother several times. [-]Kei and his mother said there was no problem and requested to explain the situation at a press conference for public understanding. However, that was denied.[/-] [Correction: the Akishinos wanted the press conference, not the Komuros]

The Akishino couple respect Mako and Kei's desire to marry but feel they cannot proceed under present circumstances. Vice grand steward Yasuhiko Nishimura says the IHA doesn't know exactly what's going on.

Sources: Mainichi, Jiji

ETA: Oh geez, the media followed Kei to the US...

Well, if I were Mako’s parents, I wouldn’t have done the same - pause the engagement. The fiancé has got way too many rumours around him and his mother. Japanese Imperial Family is very sensitive about anything that has a potential to get them into public scandals or embarrassment.

 

[Prisma]

Thanks for all of the video and news, Prisma.

Observing comments on social media, it indeed seemed as if a multitude of negative, angry, or insulting statements and stories were being aimed at Kei Komuro and his mother. It's impossible for me to know for sure with my lack of knowledge of Japanese, but the tweets in the New York Times article, and the replies on Fordham University's tweet, suggest the same conclusion:

[...]

You're welcome! Those twitter responses... ouch. The departure videos have so many down votes on YouTube. However, he does have some support. In one of the videos, I heard some encouraging "ganbatte" to Kei at the airport. Ganbatte means "to do their best" or "to not give up."

I thought Kei's post-graduate degree was in some area of law. Need to look again.

Well, if I were Mako’s parents, I wouldn’t have done the same - pause the engagement. The fiancé has got way too many rumours around him and his mother. Japanese Imperial Family is very sensitive about anything that has a potential to get them into public scandals or embarrassment.

The one rumor that turned out to be true is the financial dispute with Mrs. Komuro's ex-fiancé. That should have been anticipated and dealt with sooner. I haven't seen anything credible about the cult, Korean descent, etc. Masako has been accused of Korean blood. Kiko and the Kawashimas have been called social climbers. Some crazy people are convinced there's a grand conspiracy that the Owadas are out to control the monarchy. The Imperial family can be too sensitive at times and insensitive at others.

Kyodo News - Princess Mako's parents told boyfriend to solve financial issue: source

[...] The Komuro family has told the princess' parents that they did not regard the money as a "debt" and are seeking to hold talks with the mother's former fiancé, according to the source.

[…]

The parents have also asked Komuro to present a future life plan, including career building beyond his current job as a paralegal at a Tokyo law firm, as a condition for the formal engagement and marriage with Princess Mako, the source said.

[…]

Despite the postponement of their nuptial, Princess Mako and Komuro are staying in close contact with each other and their intention to marry is unchanged, according to the source.

[…]

In random news, conservatives were shocked that Princess Mako used the western calendar year 2012 instead of the Japanese era year Heisei 24 when she spoke about her and Kei's first proper conversation at the informal engagement press conference last September.

Source: Asahi

 

[LauraS3514]

You're welcome! Those twitter responses... ouch. The departure videos have so many down votes on YouTube. However, he does have some support. In one of the videos, I heard some encouraging "ganbatte" to Kei at the airport. Ganbatte means "to do their best" or "to not give up."

I thought Kei's post-graduate degree was in some area of law. Need to look again.

The one rumor that turned out to be true is the financial dispute with Mrs. Komuro's ex-fiancé. That should have been anticipated and dealt with sooner. I haven't seen anything credible about the cult, Korean descent, etc. Masako has been accused of Korean blood. Kiko and the Kawashimas have been called social climbers. Some crazy people are convinced there's a grand conspiracy that the Owadas are out to control the monarchy. The Imperial family can be too sensitive at times and insensitive at others.

Kyodo News - Princess Mako's parents told boyfriend to solve financial issue: source

In random news, conservatives were shocked that Princess Mako used the western calendar year 2012 instead of the Japanese era year Heisei 24 when she spoke about her and Kei's first proper conversation at the informal engagement press conference last September.

Source: Asahi

Given all that has happened regarding this engagement, I can see where Princess Mako was probably looking forward to getting away from the IHA and the spotlight and just being herself. She always looks sad or pensive most of the time to me.

 

[carlota]

engagements are supposed to be joyous events and i am saddened to see what they have done to mako and ken on their special ocassion.

i do not even understand the whole story. from what i gather, ken's mum went into debt to pay for his education. so what? mako is getting a lump sum anyway as a result of her leaving the imperial family which could have easily covered this. in any case, couldn't this be kept private? ken's mum's affairs are no one's business. how rude to publish such details.

Poor guy. I guess the IHA sees this as his opportunity to redeem himself but is extremely harsh on the couple. They have been waiting to get married for a long time and now there is another forced separation of 3 years.

what do you mean by 'redeem itself' and by forced separation? could you explain further?

does this mean the engagement will not take place? i thought it could if the debt was repaid.

 

[Prisma]

engagements are supposed to be joyous events and i am saddened to see what they have done to mako and ken on their special ocassion.

i do not even understand the whole story. from what i gather, ken's mum went into debt to pay for his education. so what? mako is getting a lump sum anyway as a result of her leaving the imperial family which could have easily covered this. in any case, couldn't this be kept private? ken's mum's affairs are no one's business. how rude to publish such details.

[...]

It would be different if the debt was a bank loan. That has clear terms and repayment plan. Instead, this is a "he said, she said" dispute and a matter of honor. Mrs. Komuro's ex-fiancé now wants the money back whereas the Komuros regarded it as a gift. I don't know whether he contacted the media first or vice versa. It's been years since he broke the engagement with Mrs. Komuro. Regardless, he aired his grievances to a reporter after Kei turned out to be Mako's intended husband.

I agree it's rude to publish such details. Unfortunately, that's the reality for any tabloid press.

The Komuros should settle with the ex-fiancé. Figure out a payment plan and get him to sign a confidentiality agreement. I was puzzled at first why they won't hold a press conference or issue a denial. After some thought, it makes sense. Responding publicly only escalates the situation. The ex-fiancé could talk even more or hold his own press conference. The back and forth would be a nightmare. So far, he's known under an alias in the tabloids. It'd be better to announce if/when there's a resolution.

The lump sum is from the government and seen as taxpayers' money. It looks bad that any portion could be used to repay this debt. From the reports above, Prince Akishino and Princess Kiko want the dispute solved and Kei to have a better career before formal engagement rituals can proceed.

 

[iceflower]

.

The press doesn't leave him alone: Kei Komuro was pictured on his way to Fordham University today, August 13:


** Pic **