The Kei Komuro and Mako Thread

[thomas]

A would-be prince kissed to a frog by the media with the help of the Imperial Household Agency: an opinion piece on Japan's imperial wedding drama.

Kei Komuro and Princess Mako in 2017

Japan's imperial wedding drama a clash between old and new​

Westerners inculcated with modern democratic values will wonder what the fuss is about. Soon after the princess and Komuro announced their engagement in 2017, Japanese gossip magazines began to report "financial problems" between Komuro's widowed mother and an unnamed Mr. A described as her "former fiance." Mr. A, it was reported, had "loaned" Komuro's mother 4 million yen ($36,000) back in 2010 before their engagement was terminated. Mr. A told the magazines that the "debt" had not been repaid. Modern-minded Westerners will be surprised, and indeed offended, that a dispute over a relatively small sum between Komuro's mother and ex-boyfriend should have any bearing on her son or his wedding plans. After all, modern democratic values emphatically reject the ancient belief in collective tribal guilt, that the son is responsible for the father's sins. So, too, we have moved on from the related pre-modern notion that one must not marry outside of one's tribe, or below or above one's station. Ah, but there's the rub. Monarchy itself is anti-democratic. It is a status handed down from father to son based on blood, not individual merit. Outside Japan, that one's intended marriage partner's parents declared personal bankruptcy or divorced is no longer an insurmountable barrier. In Japan, "good family backgrounds" still matter, especially for the older sister of a future Emperor.

And the conclusion:

The messy drama shows that it is naive to expect that modern democratic values and the ancient codes embedded in a hereditary monarchy can be easily reconciled. If Komuro and Princess Mako plow ahead with an official wedding and the associated benefits and privileges, public opinion will strongly disapprove. Fair or not, the Imperial institution will be diminished in the public eye. The only dignified path forward for Komuro and Princess Mako is to renounce all Imperial benefits and privileges and live their lives as ordinary Japanese citizens.

Source: Japan's imperial wedding drama a clash between old and new

Love or the filthy lucre, what will it be?

 

[Petaris]

The media will win, either way it sells copy!

This is also why some traditions / traditional thinking should just die off.

 

[thomas]

Surprising twist: today, it was reported that Princess Mako would move to New York and marry her fiance, Mr Komuro, by year-end. She will likely decline a lump-sum payment of 150m JPY (courtesy of taxpayers). Escaping the clutches of the Imperial Household Agency and the prying eyes of the media was probably the best decision of her life.

Princess Mako to marry boyfriend Kei Komuro by the end of the year

The marriage between the couple, who are both 29, has been postponed for more than two years following reports of trouble between Komuro's mother and her former fiance over money.

www.japantimes.co.jp

Under the current rules, female imperial family members lose their royal status upon marrying a commoner. The marriage of the princess and Komuro, both 29, has been postponed for over two years due to the dispute over 4 million yen that the former fiance claims the mother owes him. The sum includes money spent on Komuro's educational expenses. If the princess marries Komuro without traditional ceremonies, she would be the first female imperial family member to skip them in postwar Japan. The rites are an official engagement ceremony called "Nosai no Gi," in which the families of the betrothed exchange gifts, and a "Choken no Gi" ceremony to officially meet with the emperor and empress before marriage. The Imperial Household Agency will consider whether it is possible under current rules not to offer the lump-sum payment, which would be financed by taxpayers' money, in accordance with the princess's request.

Princess Mako, boyfriend Komuro to marry by year-end

Princess Mako, a niece of Japanese Emperor Naruhito, and her boyfriend Kei Komuro will marry by the year-end and may start a new life in the United States, but without holding the related ritual ceremonies in a rare decision, a government source said Wednesday. Amid public unease about their...

japantoday.com

 

[Uncle Frank]

Seems I've heard a somewhat similar story to this before.

 

[Lothor]

Seems I've heard a somewhat similar story to this before. View attachment 47828

The situation is a bit different with Harry and Meghan. Although parts of the media in Britain treated them very badly, they are not above using the media when it suits them. Mako and Kei probably genuinely want obscurity, and good luck to them.

 

[Petaris]

I wish them both luck and happiness!
Maybe they can form a Royals in Self-Exile club with Harry and Megan and start a new trend. haha!

 

[mdchachi]

I wish them both luck and happiness!
Maybe they can form a Royals in Self-Exile club with Harry and Megan and start a new trend. haha!

They should move to California, maybe into the same neighborhood as Harry & Meghan. All they need to do is set up an interview with Oprah to start their new lives.

 

[thomas]

She looks happy.

眞子さま始めた小室さんとの新居探し 都心タワマンが最有力に | 女性自身

2月23日、61歳の誕生日を迎えられた天皇陛下。2月19日に行われた記者会見では、眞子さまの結婚についてもお答えになった。 「眞子内親王の結婚については、国民の間で様々な意見があることは私も承知しております。このことについては、眞子内親王が、御両親とよく話し合い、秋篠宮が言ったように、多くの人が納得し喜んでくれる状況になることを願っております」 会見では、事前に提出され

jisin.jp

 

[thomas]

It looks as if the Imperial Household Agency will agree not to pay a lump sum of some 150m JPY to Princess Mako. Dear IHA, on behalf of all taxpayers residing in Japan, thank you for your graciousness and understanding!

Side-note: according to the Imperial Household Finance Act, the lump sum is intended to "maintain the dignity of female members" after leaving the imperial family.

Mr Komuro will return to Japan on Monday, the wedding is planned for the end of October at the earliest.

Japan gov't to OK Princess Mako's decision to turn down lump-sum marriage money: sources - The Mainichi

TOKYO -- The Imperial Household Agency is set to finalize a decision not to pay a lump sum to Princess Mako, the elder daughter of Crown Prince Akishi

mainichi.jp

 

[mdchachi]

So what's going to happen to her dignity now?!

 

[thomas]

Meanwhile, Mr Komuro returned to Japan last Monday under immense media coverage. He had already been chased by Japanese reporters in New York and received a lot of flak (from journalists) for his refusal to answer their questions. And ... [gasp] ... he had grown a ponytail!

Kei Komuro’s ponytail caused a media frenzy in Japan — leaving some to ask why

To some extent, the ratings-driven coverage speaks to the Japanese public's disapproval of Princess Mako's boyfriend.

www.japantimes.co.jp

It's also been reported that Princess Mako had PTSD caused by abusive comments and the media frenzy. She and Komuro Kei will marry on 26 October.

Princess Mako, the eldest daughter of Crown Prince Fumihito and Crown Princess Kiko, will marry her college sweetheart Kei Komuro on Oct. 26 after postponing their wedding for years. Officials of the Imperial Household Agency announced details of the marriage plan at a news conference on Oct. 1 and simultaneously revealed that Mako has suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder due to abusive comments about her relationship with Komuro.

Princess Mako to marry commoner Kei Komuro on Oct. 26 | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis

It is not sure whether Mr Komuro will get rid of his ponytail before tying the knot with Princess Mako.

 

[mdchachi]

It is not sure whether Mr Komuro will get rid of his ponytail before tying the knot with Princess Mako.

If he converts it to a top-knot then he can have a traditional wedding, no?

 

[thomas]

Yesterday, about 100 people demonstrated in Tokyo against the wedding between Princess mako And Kei Komuro. The demonstration was organised by someone calling himself 皇室系ユーチューバー (Imperial Yutuber). According to Yahoo Japan, 80% of all participants were female.

眞子さまと小室圭さんの「結婚反対！」異例の行進デモが銀座で開催 (東スポWeb) - Yahoo!ニュース

眞子さまと小室圭さんの結婚に反対する行進デモ - Yahoo!ニュース(東スポWeb)

news.yahoo.co.jp

眞子さまと小室圭さんの「結婚反対！」異例の行進デモが銀座で開催 | 東スポWEB

　秋篠宮家の長女眞子さま（２９）と小室圭さん（３０）の結婚に反対する行進デモが１０日、都内で行われた。　主催したのは皇室系ユーチューバーの京（けい）氏で、小室さんの警備に多額の税金が使われている...

www.tokyo-sports.co.jp

 

[Petaris]

Maybe the young couple should take a New York stance on the demonstration and tell them they can go F*** OFF! lol

 

[thomas]

Last Saturday saw another demonstration of some 130 people who oppose the upcoming marriage. Just like the first one, it was organised by the "imperial Youtuber". It makes you wonder what drives these people.

眞子さまと小室圭さんの結婚反対デモが再進撃「やっと声を上げられた」（東スポWeb） - Yahoo!ニュース

　秋篠宮家の眞子さま（２９）と小室圭さん（３０）の結婚に反対する行進デモが１６日、都内で行われた。皇室ニュースを配信している皇室系ユーチューバーの京（けい）氏が企画したもので、今月１０日に行われたの

news.yahoo.co.jp

Meanwhile, Mr Komuro, minus the ponytail, visited his in-laws-to-be:

Princess Mako's boyfriend pays visit to her parents before marriage - The Mainichi

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Princess Mako's boyfriend Kei Komuro visited her parents Monday ahead of their controversy-hit marriage later this month, as the coup

mainichi.jp

The agency revealed earlier this month the princess has been diagnosed with complex post-traumatic stress disorder caused by what she described as psychological abuse the couple and their families had received. Complex PTSD develops in response to the prolonged and repeated experiences of trauma including verbal abuse and cyberbullying, according to Tsuyoshi Akiyama, a psychiatrist who diagnosed the princess. The couple has often been subjected to derogatory comments on social media.

Ponytail shorn, Princess Mako's boyfriend visits her parents ahead of marriage

Kei Komuro, who was reunited with the princess for the first time in over three years, is believed to have discussed the unresolved financial dispute that roiled the couple's wedding plans.

www.japantimes.co.jp

 

[Lothor]

According to the placards, the Imperial Household requires protection from Mr Komuro. I can't remember such protests when the current emperor's younger sister, Sayoko, married a pleb commoner some years ago. Must be the ponytail!

 

[bentenmusume]

It makes you wonder what drives these people.

They are miserable individuals who literally cannot find any purpose in their lives or any reason to feel good about themselves unless they insult/denigrate/put down/put themselves on a higher pedestal than others.

 

[Lothor]

Jake Adelstein is spot on as usual. My take is that the conservatives, who are furious about Princess Mako following her heart rather than opting for a life of duty breeding heirs for Yamato, know that they cannot attack her so have gone for her fiancee.

Inside Japan’s Meltdown Over Princess’ ‘Cursed’ Wedding to Commoner

From attacking the groom’s ponytail to picking apart his family’s finances, the Japanese press is going berserk over Princess Mako’s imminent wedding to her commoner darling.

www.thedailybeast.com

 

[thomas]

Jake Adelstein is spot on as usual. My take is that the conservatives, who are furious about Princess Mako following her heart rather than opting for a life of duty breeding heirs for Yamato, know that they cannot attack her so have gone for her fiancee.

That was a great article!

... the princess did send a powerful "f*** y**" to the powers that be in Japan.

😊😆🤣

Not as outspoken as Adelstein, JT had a piece today blaming the Kunaichō for its poor, or rather, non-existent media handling:

Imperial Household Agency criticized for media strategy — or lack thereof

In the era of social media, the agency's stiff and out-of-date approach to media strategy may have poured gasoline on a fire.

www.japantimes.co.jp

 

[thomas]

Today, Mako and Kei Komuro finally tied the knot. According to a survey conducted by Yomiuri Shinbun over 50 per cent of the respondents thought the marriage was a good thing, against 33 per cent who did not.


Photo credit: Kyodo

Congratulations and godspeed!

Princess Mako marries after years of controversy

Princess Mako married her university sweetheart on Tuesday, giving up her title in a union bereft of traditional extravaganza, with the couple reportedly planning a move to the United States. Women in the imperial family cannot ascend the Chrysanthemum Throne, and lose their royal status when...

japantoday.com

Princess Mako weds after drawn-out engagement drama

In tying the knot with her college sweetheart, the princess relinquished her royal status and brought closure to a four-year engagement saga marred by scandal and public backlash.

www.japantimes.co.jp

 

[mdchachi]

The 33% can go f#ck off. It's none of their business.

But the real question is, is the ponytail still there? I don't see any pics of the commoner.

 

[mdchachi]

Looks like he sacrificed the top knot. He should auction it off for charity. That would really cause a stir.

After they move to NY, I'm really hoping that the next picture we see will have him with a full neck tattoo even if it's just temporary.

 

[thomas]

And their press conference on YT:

 

[Jhopesstrawberry]

A would-be prince kissed to a frog by the media with the help of the Imperial Household Agency: an opinion piece on Japan's imperial wedding drama.

View attachment 43589
Kei Komuro and Princess Mako in 2017

Japan's imperial wedding drama a clash between old and new

And the conclusion:



Source: Japan's imperial wedding drama a clash between old and new

Love or the filthy lucre, what will it be?

I hate how rumors go around. They are so annoying especially all these people in the families business🙄 who cares if her mother happened to not be in the best financial state or whatevs.. I wonder how that info even gets out...
Looking at the other pictures they look so happy! I wish the best for them.

 

[bentenmusume]

I was impressed with the press conference. They come off as a very intelligent, well-spoken, and grounded young couple.

(I also should have known better than to peek down at the comments on the YouTube video, many of which are utterly shameful.)