The parents of Princess Mako of Akishino have demanded that her boyfriend Kei Komuro and his mother resolve their financial issues before their formal engagement can be announced, a source told the Japan Times.
Their plans for an engagement were announced last September after they received the blessing of the Princess’s grandfather, Emperor Akihito. Just five months later, it was announced by the Imperial Household Agency that the formal engagement and the wedding were postponed to at least 2020 due to “lack of preparation.” The couple’s wedding date had been set for 4 November 2018, but the Princess said through the Imperial Household Agency that she “came to recognise the lack of time to make sufficient preparations.” Back then, the Imperial Household Agency denied that finances were the reason for the postponement. Reportedly there is a financial dispute between the groom’s mother and her former fiance over her son’s educational expenses, which the former fiance was paying. Prince Akishino and Princess Kiko, Princess Mako’s parents, have also asked the Komuros to explain the matter publicly but so far no action has been taken.
“The intention of the two to get married hasn’t changed at all. The postponement isn’t because of the report,” said Takaharu Kaji, an Imperial Household Agency official. Another official said the postponement should be seen positively. “If there is any trouble, it should be resolved, and then the two should get married. Time can be used to further strengthen their bonds,” he said.
“Last May, there were reports about our engagement at an unexpected time,” Princess Mako said last February. “We believe we have rushed various things.”
“I wish to think about marriage more deeply and concretely and give sufficient time to prepare our marriage and for after the marriage,” she added.
