The requested article has expired, and is no longer available. Any related articles, and user comments are shown below.
© 2019 AFPPrincess Mako's boyfriend insists his family has no financial difficulties
By Shizuo Kambayashi TOKYO©2025 GPlusMedia Inc.
27 Comments
Login to comment
ThonTaddeo
I wish the media and Imperial Household Agency would leave these two alone and let them be happy together.
Disillusioned
27 and immature? TIJ!
Madden
The imperial household has said that they want the mother to meet with the ex and publicly explain the situation and how they plan to resolve it as a condition of getting married. The fact that this has not happened yet makes me think she has some skeletons in her closet that she's afraid of getting out, why complicate the marriage otherwise? If she has nothing to hide then just do what the imperial family wants so that they no longer have an excuse to block it.
Tony G
Who's paying the bills?Who's going to pay for the wedding?Whoever it is, it's their way or the highway.
gogogo
No one knows what the damn problem is!?
Yubaru
Be nice to see people get it right, he is her fiance, quite a bit more than just a boyfriend!
Wallace Fred
A simple but very common trope in japan defined as simple things are executed with difficulty and hard things are discussed ad infinitum with no solution in sight
obladi
Ok, I guess it's not the main point here, but, if money is "offered during an engagement" (I'm assuming for the wedding, but this is not 100% clear), and then the wedding is called off, I kinda think mom should return the money. 4 million yen is not a fortune. On the other hand, this is not a black mark on the son, right?
TheReds
This is so annoying. Just let them be and let them love like any other couples. Even if there is a problem, it is their problem. FGS.
factchecker
Who cares!
ZENJI
You just know THE IMPERIAL HOUSEHOLD AGENCY, are behind this.
A more spiteful vindictive evil minded regime you will not find anywhere.
Just look at what they have done to our Crown Princess.
We can only guess what annoyed this evil regime. Did the couple stand up for themselves.
Did they want their own agenda? Is it because the boyfriend in not from a background THE HOUSEHOLD approve of?.
This despotic regime is well past it's USE BY DATE. Outdated, Overpowered.
I wish the couple well.
Be strong.
quercetum
Blaming immaturity is a way of being humble or appearing to be humble. People who use this phrase may not actually they are immature. It's more or less along the lines of "there are many things we do not know and would appreciate your kindness and generosity, yoroshiku onegaishimasu."
mmwkdw
Compared to the British Royal Family, they should be thanking their lucky stars that she doesn't get caught in unofficial unfortunate rauctious situations such as pretending to be an Exotic pole dancer, whilst serving in the JSDF.
Why don't they just do the local Ward office official marriage thing, and have done with it... would save us all a lot of time, money, and probably end up with them having the privacy they deserve - due to lack of interest from Scandal seekers. Good luck on them.
Jeff Huffman
What about Princess Mako's family? They are living on a state subsidy themselves.
Whatsnext
This is disgusting. The media and the family.
Samit Basu
@TheReds
It doesn't work like that in Japan.
The family background matters more than the character of groom in Japan, so a lot of eyebrows were raised when a princess would marry the son of a financially struggling single mother.
robotxparty
Maybe he and his mother (the family) feel there are no financial difficulties, but seems to not be the opinion of the former fiance who insists the money was a loan, not a gift. So all it takes in Japan is just to tell the person who loaned you money "sorry, I can't pay it" and then you can forget all about it? Nice dream world she lives in.
Samit Basu
@robotxparty
Yes, but that's Komuro's mother's problem, not Komuro's.
If the Imperial Household Agency is so concerned by this, just have an arranged marriage with some billionaire tycoon's family.
Ex_Res
Her father and the Imperial Household obviously don't want them to get married.
Aly Rustom
My advice is for them to elope and leave Japan. A perfect song comes to mind....
The Way (Fastball song)
They made up their minds
And they started packing
They left before the sun came up that day
An exit to eternal summer slacking
But where were they going without ever knowing the way
They drank up the wine
And they got to talking
They now had more important things to say
And when the car broke down
They started walking
Where were they going without ever knowing the way
Anyone can see the road that they walk on is paved in gold
And it's always summer
They'll never get cold
They'll never get hungry
They'll never get old and gray
You can see their shadows wandering off somewhere
They won't make it home
But they really don't care
They wanted the highway
They're happier there today
Their children woke up
And they couldn't find 'em
They left…
Stewie
Romeo and Juliette. (but without the Shakespeare ending thanks)
Let them be.
Sam Watters
Run away, Kei. Mako is going to be nothing but trouble for you. She is 27 years old, has never lived a day in her life on her own (during her time overseas she was accompanied with assistants and security), probably couldn't cook to safe her life and probably doesn't want to learn at this point. She still does what she is told to do by Mom and Dad. You do not need to marry her to enjoy whatever the two of you have enjoyed up to this point. Read the posts of men on this site who speak from experience.
Chico3
27 and immature? TIJ!
Have you seen or interacted with OLs or the typical salariman here? 27 is debatable.
robotxparty
The money was used for HIM, so the problem is tied to him whether he likes it or not. And since there is no father in the picture, it's him and his mother - so her neglect or refusal to pay the money back tarnishes his name, as well.
itsonlyrocknroll
Whether the couple espouse to loves lost dream I suspect is dependent not on the absolute condition that tKomuro's alleged family financial commitments are resolved.
Can't buy me love, the Beatles classic, never took into account the financial commitments attributed to a potential bridegroom betrothal to a member of the Imperial House of Japan.
Sorry to be blunt, Kei Komuro, probably through no fault of his own, succumbs to the unenviable condition of being a tad potless.
Respectfully Komuro san Mother, has all the emotional baggage and potential for a media circus in the making.
One must also question Kei Komuro, a paralegal judgement, making a press statement without formally obtaining clear confirmation with his Mothers former fiancée that all matters are in fact resolved.
Mako’s intended asserts money woes are settled, but perhaps not.....
http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/AJ201901220033.html