Japan's First in Line to the Throne, Crown Prince, Warns Against Defamatory Reports on Daughter's Marriage

▲Fumihito Crown Prince (center), first in line to the Japanese throne, with his second daughter Princess Kako (right) and youngest son Prince Hisahito (left) [Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Jae-hee] Crown Prince Akishino-no-miya Fumihito, the first in line to the Chrysanthemum Throne, has issued a warning regarding the sensationalist coverage by Japanese magazines and internet media about the marriage of his daughter, Princess Mako.

According to Japanese media such as NHK and Kyodo News on the 30th, Crown Prince Fumihito stated at a press conference on the 25th, "Defamation and slander, in other words, causing deep wounds to people, cannot be tolerated whether it is in magazines or on the internet."

The press conference was held ahead of Crown Prince Fumihito's 56th birthday (on the 30th), and was reported simultaneously by Japanese media five days later on this day.

Princess Mako, who married her university classmate Kei Komuro on the 26th of last month, is reported to have been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) due to magazine and internet articles related to her mother-in-law's financial issues.

Regarding such magazine and internet reports, Fumihito said, "It is necessary to establish certain standards and create criteria to respond with counterarguments if those standards are exceeded."

Mako and Komuro, conscious of the critical public opinion surrounding their marriage, only registered their marriage without holding a wedding ceremony. Mako also gave up the lump-sum settlement of about 1.5 billion yen that she could receive when leaving the Imperial Family after marrying a commoner.

Fumihito said that the omission of the Imperial Family's wedding ceremony was "my decision," citing as the reason that many people did not accept Komuro's explanation regarding the financial issues.

▲Fumihito Crown Prince's eldest daughter Mako (right) and Mako's husband Komuro (left) [Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

He said, "It gave the impression that the Imperial Family's ceremony was very trivial," and added, "It also affected the Imperial Family, and I feel sorry to those who were inconvenienced."

After the marriage, Mako began her newlywed life in New York, USA.

Fumihito conveyed his wish on the wedding day that "I hope they live healthily," and regarding his daughter's life in the United States, he said, "It is the best thing for them."

Mako and Komuro, classmates at the International Christian University (ICU) in Japan, announced their engagement in September 2017 after five years of dating, and later announced in November of the same year that their wedding would be held on November 4, 2018.

However, when a Japanese weekly magazine reported on Komuro's mother's financial issues, the Imperial Household Agency, which handles Imperial Family affairs, announced in February 2018 that the wedding would be postponed.

Komuro later went to study in the United States and returned on September 3 after 3 years and 1 month, marrying Mako.