Mako Komuro, right, and her husband Kei Komuro look at each other at the end of a news conference on their marriage, in Tokyo's Chiyoda Ward on Oct. 26, 2021. (Pool photo)

       This 2019 file photo shows the Imperial Household Agency's Grand Steward Yasuhiko Nishimura. (Pool photo)

       TOKYO -- The Imperial Household Agency's grand steward on Oct. 28 called for consideration of the privacy of Mako Komuro, who left the Imperial Family upon her marriage two days earlier, in light of the fact that she is now a private citizen.

       At a regular news conference on Oct. 28, Yasuhiko Nishimura said of the former princess, "I would be grateful if everyone could cooperate with us so that she can live in a quiet environment."

       Asked what he thought of the former princess's remarks at her marriage news conference with husband Kei Komuro on Oct. 26, Nishimura replied, "While she was not in perfect health, she sincerely expressed her thoughts on marriage in her own words. As a person who has supported her, I feel very sorry for the extent of the pain she has suffered." Regarding the fact that answers to journalists' questions to Mako and Kei Komuro were written beforehand, he said, "It's unfortunate, but I think it was unavoidable."

       There have been a series of reports in weekly magazines and other media about Mako's marriage that could be described as attacks. Nishimura said that it would be difficult to respond to each and every report even if they contained errors, but added, "The Imperial Household Agency would like to study the appropriate way to disseminate information."

       (Japanese original by Takeshi Wada, Tokyo City News Department)

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