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The Crown Prince's news conference was originally scheduled to last 20 minutes, but it went on for about an hour. The majority of the questions presented by Imperial Household Agency reporters were about the marriage of his daughter to Komuro, and the Crown Prince answered them politely with a matter-of-fact expression.
One issue that rose in connection with the marriage, was the line between the "public" and "private" aspects of the Imperial Family. In the news conference, the Crown Prince said that it was fundamental for the Imperial Household to "share the joy and sorrow of the public and carry out its duty while desiring the happiness of the people." He also expressed the view that "'public' is something that should always take priority over 'private,'" and said that he believed Mako had "always given priority to public matters while in the Imperial Family."
However, that she did not bend when it came to her marriage to Komuro was perceived as giving "private" matters priority. On this point, the Crown Prince commented, "I think marriage is a personal matter, and four years had passed (since the announcement of Mako's informal engagement)." He added that if the "public" were given priority, "she wouldn't be able to marry for 10 or even 20 years." He additionally questioned whether the marriage issue could clearly be designated as "public" or "private."
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The Imperial Household Agency sometimes corrects mistaken information on its website, but it exercises reserve. The Crown Prince said that when one matter is picked up, everything has to be explained, and this requires "a large amount of energy." At the same time, he went as far as to state that it is necessary to consider countering wrong reports and other such information, as well as creating standards for doing so.
During the news conference, attention turned toward the Crown Prince's memories of Mako. He cited his trip to Madagascar with Mako in 2007, when she was in high school. He said it was their first overseas trip just between them. "While driving by car for about 12 1/2 hours, we observed changes in the botanical landscape, and came into contact with music and dancing at the places we visited, and it remains deeply in my memory," he said.
On the other hand, he said that when Kei Komuro visited Akasaka Estate in Tokyo's Minato Ward ahead of the marriage, "The meeting lasted for about 20 minutes. It didn't leave an impression on me. It was a very ordinary conversation." Throughout the news conference, the Crown Prince did not refer to Komuro by name, but as Mako's "husband."
