Controversy Over 1.6 Billion Won Dowry Paid by Taxes for Japanese Princess Marrying a Commoner

Annual Royal Family Allowance Increased Tenfold

Princess Mako of Japan and her boyfriend Komuro Kei. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-ju] Ahead of the marriage of Princess Mako (29), niece of Emperor Naruhito, controversy surrounds the amount of the lump-sum payment, which serves as a dowry for the princess.

Japanese media outlets have been releasing reports about the lump-sum payment Princess Mako will receive as she leaves the imperial family to marry a commoner.

Fumihito Crown Prince, father of Princess Mako and first in line to the throne, "acknowledged" the marriage of Princess Mako and her fianc? Kei Komuro (29) at a press conference held on the 30th to mark his 55th birthday.

Accordingly, the couple plans to hold their wedding ceremony once the resurgence of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) subsides. Originally, the two were scheduled to marry in November 2018, but postponed the wedding by two years, citing insufficient time to prepare.

Japanese media have focused on the lump-sum payment Princess Mako will receive.

In Japan, when a female member of the imperial family marries a commoner, she loses her royal status. According to the "Imperial Household Economy Act," a lump-sum payment is made "to cover the maintenance of dignity as a former member of the imperial family."

The lump sum is paid up to ten times the annual "imperial family allowance" received from the state while living as a royal, and this payment is tax-exempt.

Princess Mako's imperial family allowance this year is 15.25 million yen (approximately 162 million KRW), so the lump sum can be up to 152.5 million yen (approximately 1.62 billion KRW).

The Asahi Shimbun reported, "Since a maximum amount has been paid to female royals in the past, it is highly likely that the full amount (152.5 million yen) will be paid this time as well."

However, since the lump sum is entirely funded by taxes, criticism has arisen over the payment of such a large sum from taxpayers' money.

Regarding this, a representative from the Imperial Household Agency, which manages the imperial family, told the Asahi Shimbun, "Members of the imperial family devote themselves to public duties, making it difficult to develop professional skills for working in the private sector. They do not possess assets such as real estate, so the amount is not excessively high for someone entering society."

Meanwhile, Princess Mako is expected to remain in the imperial family as a special government official after marriage. The Yomiuri Shimbun reported on the 24th that "the Japanese government has begun reviewing the establishment of a system allowing female members of the imperial family to remain in the imperial household and continue public activities after marriage."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.