Wedding bells for Princess Mako of Japan and Kei Komuro

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This story is so bizarre. This princess is nowhere in contention for the throne. She will no longer by a royal after the wedding or receive any public monies. Why would anyone care about who she marries, to the extent of street protests?

From what I know -

A) They consider all the royal children as symbolic and religious representatives of Japan. Because the imperial family are descended from a goddess.

B) Marrying beneath herself is considered polluting the heritage of the imperial family. The European royals have been doing so for a long time, not so the Japanese. It’s a new thing.

C) There’s a rumor that the IHA don’t want any of the young imperial women to marry at all. There’s only three left who are not married (if you marry you’re out of the family) and if they all wed - no one is left to help the 15-year-old future emperor with his duties.

Didn’t the previous emperor marry a commoner as empress? What about that? It’s ok for the men but not the women? A deeply sexist society.

Umm the Americans are the ones who created these rules when they occupied Japan... so I guess we know which society is "sexist."

Whatever you tell yourself to make yourself feel better. The Americans really forced the Japanese to treat their women as second class citizens. 🙄

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This story is so bizarre. This princess is nowhere in contention for the throne. She will no longer by a royal after the wedding or receive any public monies. Why would anyone care about who she marries, to the extent of street protests?

From what I know -

A) They consider all the royal children as symbolic and religious representatives of Japan. Because the imperial family are descended from a goddess.

B) Marrying beneath herself is considered polluting the heritage of the imperial family. The European royals have been doing so for a long time, not so the Japanese. It’s a new thing.

C) There’s a rumor that the IHA don’t want any of the young imperial women to marry at all. There’s only three left who are not married (if you marry you’re out of the family) and if they all wed - no one is left to help the 15-year-old future emperor with his duties.

Didn’t the previous emperor marry a commoner as empress? What about that? It’s ok for the men but not the women? A deeply sexist society.

Umm the Americans are the ones who created these rules when they occupied Japan... so I guess we know which society is "sexist."

Absolutely not. Sexism in Japan is out of this world and not an American creation. Take the blame where it is due but that is not the case here.

/Japanese American

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This story is so bizarre. This princess is nowhere in contention for the throne. She will no longer by a royal after the wedding or receive any public monies. Why would anyone care about who she marries, to the extent of street protests?

From what I know -

A) They consider all the royal children as symbolic and religious representatives of Japan. Because the imperial family are descended from a goddess.

B) Marrying beneath herself is considered polluting the heritage of the imperial family. The European royals have been doing so for a long time, not so the Japanese. It’s a new thing.

C) There’s a rumor that the IHA don’t want any of the young imperial women to marry at all. There’s only three left who are not married (if you marry you’re out of the family) and if they all wed - no one is left to help the 15-year-old future emperor with his duties.

Didn’t the previous emperor marry a commoner as empress? What about that? It’s ok for the men but not the women? A deeply sexist society.

Both the former Empress and current Empress come from extremely wealthy families. Yes, they got away with a little more marrying in as women but there’s no getting around their wealth. Michiko’s father was a multi-million owner of a trading company and Masako’s father was in private equity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This story is so bizarre. This princess is nowhere in contention for the throne. She will no longer by a royal after the wedding or receive any public monies. Why would anyone care about who she marries, to the extent of street protests?

From what I know -

A) They consider all the royal children as symbolic and religious representatives of Japan. Because the imperial family are descended from a goddess.

B) Marrying beneath herself is considered polluting the heritage of the imperial family. The European royals have been doing so for a long time, not so the Japanese. It’s a new thing.

C) There’s a rumor that the IHA don’t want any of the young imperial women to marry at all. There’s only three left who are not married (if you marry you’re out of the family) and if they all wed - no one is left to help the 15-year-old future emperor with his duties.

Didn’t the previous emperor marry a commoner as empress? What about that? It’s ok for the men but not the women? A deeply sexist society.

Both the former Empress and current Empress come from extremely wealthy families. Yes, they got away with a little more marrying in as women but there’s no getting around their wealth. Michiko’s father was a multi-million owner of a trading company and Masako’s father was in private equity.

And the recent princess who married out of the royal family also chose a very rich guy. If Mako’s husband had been from a wealthy and elite family there wouldn’t have been such an uproar.

[Anonymous]

I don’t think the uproar was necessarily because of Mr. Komuro not coming from a wealthy family. Japanese society can not tolerate people who are dishonest, and unfortunately Mr. Komuro and his mother are perceived as such.

First, there is this vague explanation about his mother’s unpaid debt to her ex-fiancé, which partially went to Mr. Komuro’s expensive private college tuition. Also his 3 year living expenses in NYC while going to Fordham Law was magically paid by a Japanese law firm where he was a paralegal for brief period after quitting his first job.

If he’d been supporting himself financially and viewed as a hard worker even if he was not making good money, many Japanese could see princess Mako’s marriage to Mr.Komuro as “ beautiful royal romance: princess falls in love with a hard working commoner.” instead of suspecting and feeling unhappy about their tax used in such a wasteful way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t think the uproar was necessarily because of Mr. Komuro not coming from a wealthy family. Japanese society can not tolerate people who are dishonest, and unfortunately Mr. Komuro and his mother are perceived as such.

First, there is this vague explanation about his mother’s unpaid debt to her ex-fiancé, which partially went to Mr. Komuro’s expensive private college tuition. Also his 3 year living expenses in NYC while going to Fordham Law was magically paid by a Japanese law firm where he was a paralegal for brief period after quitting his first job.

If he’d been supporting himself financially and viewed as a hard worker even if he was not making good money, many Japanese could see princess Mako’s marriage to Mr.Komuro as “ beautiful royal romance: princess falls in love with a hard working commoner.” instead of suspecting and feeling unhappy about their tax used in such a wasteful way.

+1. I'm Japanese and think this captures the sentiment of many.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t think the uproar was necessarily because of Mr. Komuro not coming from a wealthy family. Japanese society can not tolerate people who are dishonest, and unfortunately Mr. Komuro and his mother are perceived as such.

First, there is this vague explanation about his mother’s unpaid debt to her ex-fiancé, which partially went to Mr. Komuro’s expensive private college tuition. Also his 3 year living expenses in NYC while going to Fordham Law was magically paid by a Japanese law firm where he was a paralegal for brief period after quitting his first job.

If he’d been supporting himself financially and viewed as a hard worker even if he was not making good money, many Japanese could see princess Mako’s marriage to Mr.Komuro as “ beautiful royal romance: princess falls in love with a hard working commoner.” instead of suspecting and feeling unhappy about their tax used in such a wasteful way.

Isn't this all just tabloid gossip?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t think the uproar was necessarily because of Mr. Komuro not coming from a wealthy family. Japanese society can not tolerate people who are dishonest, and unfortunately Mr. Komuro and his mother are perceived as such.

First, there is this vague explanation about his mother’s unpaid debt to her ex-fiancé, which partially went to Mr. Komuro’s expensive private college tuition. Also his 3 year living expenses in NYC while going to Fordham Law was magically paid by a Japanese law firm where he was a paralegal for brief period after quitting his first job.

If he’d been supporting himself financially and viewed as a hard worker even if he was not making good money, many Japanese could see princess Mako’s marriage to Mr.Komuro as “ beautiful royal romance: princess falls in love with a hard working commoner.” instead of suspecting and feeling unhappy about their tax used in such a wasteful way.

+1. I'm Japanese and think this captures the sentiment of many.

What tax used in a wasteful way?

They had no wedding. They got married at a courthouse.

They have no home. They're renting an apartment together.

She gave up her $1.3 million dowry. So they're living on whatever he makes and what she saved.

What exactly is or was the problem with them getting married from a tax perspective? Also do you think he gave her an ultimatum - marry before the bar exam results come out or you don't love me? Or did they just want to get married before 2022 had come around?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t think the uproar was necessarily because of Mr. Komuro not coming from a wealthy family. Japanese society can not tolerate people who are dishonest, and unfortunately Mr. Komuro and his mother are perceived as such.

First, there is this vague explanation about his mother’s unpaid debt to her ex-fiancé, which partially went to Mr. Komuro’s expensive private college tuition. Also his 3 year living expenses in NYC while going to Fordham Law was magically paid by a Japanese law firm where he was a paralegal for brief period after quitting his first job.

If he’d been supporting himself financially and viewed as a hard worker even if he was not making good money, many Japanese could see princess Mako’s marriage to Mr.Komuro as “ beautiful royal romance: princess falls in love with a hard working commoner.” instead of suspecting and feeling unhappy about their tax used in such a wasteful way.

+1. I'm Japanese and think this captures the sentiment of many.

I get that you want whomever is representing you to be a representative of your collective values. But, does this woman not have a right to live her life with the person she chooses? She was going to leave the public role anyways, why the uproar?

The wealthy class in Japan and abroad are going to lend them a helping hand no matter what.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t think the uproar was necessarily because of Mr. Komuro not coming from a wealthy family. Japanese society can not tolerate people who are dishonest, and unfortunately Mr. Komuro and his mother are perceived as such.

First, there is this vague explanation about his mother’s unpaid debt to her ex-fiancé, which partially went to Mr. Komuro’s expensive private college tuition. Also his 3 year living expenses in NYC while going to Fordham Law was magically paid by a Japanese law firm where he was a paralegal for brief period after quitting his first job.

If he’d been supporting himself financially and viewed as a hard worker even if he was not making good money, many Japanese could see princess Mako’s marriage to Mr.Komuro as “ beautiful royal romance: princess falls in love with a hard working commoner.” instead of suspecting and feeling unhappy about their tax used in such a wasteful way.

+1. I'm Japanese and think this captures the sentiment of many.

What tax used in a wasteful way?

They had no wedding. They got married at a courthouse.

They have no home. They're renting an apartment together.

She gave up her $1.3 million dowry. So they're living on whatever he makes and what she saved.

What exactly is or was the problem with them getting married from a tax perspective? Also do you think he gave her an ultimatum - marry before the bar exam results come out or you don't love me? Or did they just want to get married before 2022 had come around?

I think they wanted to get married as soon as they could and, at this point, saw no advantages and many disadvantages to waiting. That’s my speculation, anyway.

[Anonymous]

As a royal family member, Princess Mako was receiving $27K/ year from the birth to 19 years old, then $80K/year from 20 years old until her marriage. So even though she turned down $1.4 million dowry, she should have the saving close to the same amount from all those years payments.

They will need a helping hand from wealthy people in Japan and abroad and I hope they will get it. They are going to live in Manhattan. How much will her saving and Mr. Komuro’s salary as a law clerk (now that he failed his first try at NY bar exam) sustain their ideal lifestyle?

After all, they are both immigrants here in the US and I think that’s one of the major differences from Meghan and Harry. Meghan came back to her own country, and she had her own career here before marrying Harry.

On the other hand, Mr. Komuro has work experience for just a few years in Japan and mostly he was a student up until now. Many Japanese must be feeling frustrated under Covid economy and they will not be happy if somehow Princess Mako’s father ended up helping the couple through taxpayer’s money.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a royal family member, Princess Mako was receiving $27K/ year from the birth to 19 years old, then $80K/year from 20 years old until her marriage. So even though she turned down $1.4 million dowry, she should have the saving close to the same amount from all those years payments.

They will need a helping hand from wealthy people in Japan and abroad and I hope they will get it. They are going to live in Manhattan. How much will her saving and Mr. Komuro’s salary as a law clerk (now that he failed his first try at NY bar exam) sustain their ideal lifestyle?

After all, they are both immigrants here in the US and I think that’s one of the major differences from Meghan and Harry. Meghan came back to her own country, and she had her own career here before marrying Harry.

On the other hand, Mr. Komuro has work experience for just a few years in Japan and mostly he was a student up until now. Many Japanese must be feeling frustrated under Covid economy and they will not be happy if somehow Princess Mako’s father ended up helping the couple through taxpayer’s money.

Mako and Komuro should not receive any taxpayer money and become successful on their own, just to really show it to Japan. I have every confidence that they'll be able to do it. No doubt it'll still result in a great gnashing of many teeth, as was the case with Meghan and Harry. What an exquisite mirror to each other, and that their exits both happened at approximately the same time, half a world away; I'm sure there will be a documentary or show or movie someday that touches on both couples' experiences.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a royal family member, Princess Mako was receiving $27K/ year from the birth to 19 years old, then $80K/year from 20 years old until her marriage. So even though she turned down $1.4 million dowry, she should have the saving close to the same amount from all those years payments.

They will need a helping hand from wealthy people in Japan and abroad and I hope they will get it. They are going to live in Manhattan. How much will her saving and Mr. Komuro’s salary as a law clerk (now that he failed his first try at NY bar exam) sustain their ideal lifestyle?

After all, they are both immigrants here in the US and I think that’s one of the major differences from Meghan and Harry. Meghan came back to her own country, and she had her own career here before marrying Harry.

On the other hand, Mr. Komuro has work experience for just a few years in Japan and mostly he was a student up until now. Many Japanese must be feeling frustrated under Covid economy and they will not be happy if somehow Princess Mako’s father ended up helping the couple through taxpayer’s money.

Her parents can quietly support her behind the scenes. She’ll be like just any other rich kid living in Manhattan and working at artsy jobs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a royal family member, Princess Mako was receiving $27K/ year from the birth to 19 years old, then $80K/year from 20 years old until her marriage. So even though she turned down $1.4 million dowry, she should have the saving close to the same amount from all those years payments.

They will need a helping hand from wealthy people in Japan and abroad and I hope they will get it. They are going to live in Manhattan. How much will her saving and Mr. Komuro’s salary as a law clerk (now that he failed his first try at NY bar exam) sustain their ideal lifestyle?

After all, they are both immigrants here in the US and I think that’s one of the major differences from Meghan and Harry. Meghan came back to her own country, and she had her own career here before marrying Harry.

On the other hand, Mr. Komuro has work experience for just a few years in Japan and mostly he was a student up until now. Many Japanese must be feeling frustrated under Covid economy and they will not be happy if somehow Princess Mako’s father ended up helping the couple through taxpayer’s money.

Her parents can quietly support her behind the scenes. She’ll be like just any other rich kid living in Manhattan and working at artsy jobs.

Her parents don’t need to support her directly, all they have to do is pick up the phone. Plus I actually think she can probably make a very good living as an art dealer. She speaks flawless English, has tons of connections, and deep knowledge of Japanese and Asian art. Her skills will be in demand.

[Anonymous]

I read the Japanese news coverage and this NY Post article captures the overall tone of how their marriage is covered in Japan: https://nypost.com/2021/10/02/princess-mako-and-commoner-fiance-kei-megxit-without-the-money/