VOA慢速英语2021--日本真子公主继续实施结婚计划

Japan's Princess Mako and the man she wants to be her husband are expected to get married this month. Wedding ceremonies, however, are not planned.

The marriage of Princess Mako and Kei Komuro is not fully¹ supported by the public. Palace officials say that is because of a financial controversy² involving her future mother-in-law.

The controversy involving Komuro's mother is a difficult issue for the imperial family. It has led to a public rebuke³ that has delayed their marriage for more than three years.

Komuro returned to Japan recently from New York. He was studying to become a lawyer in the city. He grew his hair long and tied it in a ponytail. That is considered unusual for someone marrying a princess because the Japanese imperial family is bound by tradition. His appearance only added to the criticism.

The two are to register their marriage on October 26. The Imperial Household Agency said they also will hold a news conference together at that time. The two are expected to start a new life together in New York later this year.

The agency said there will be no wedding celebration or other rituals for the couple "because their marriage is not celebrated⁴ by many people."

Palace officials said Mako has also decided⁵ not to take a $1.35 million payment she has the right to receive for leaving the imperial family. Mako would be the first female imperial family member since World War II not to receive the payment when marrying a commoner, or a person who is not a part of royalty⁶.

The agency said Mako was recently believed to have a mental condition that palace doctors described as a form of traumatic stress disorder⁷. That condition is said to be caused by extreme mental tension.

Mako turns 30 three days before the wedding. She is a niece of Japan's Emperor Naruhito. She and Komuro were classmates at Tokyo's International Christian⁸ University when they announced in September 2017 that they wanted to marry the following year. But the financial controversy surfaced two months later. The wedding was suspended.

The controversy involved money Komuro's mother received from a man she was to marry. It is not clear whether that money, which was spent on Komuro's education in Japan, was a loan or a gift.

Komuro left for New York in 2018 to study law. He did not return to Japan until last week.

The Imperial House Law only permits males to carry forward the line of emperors. Female members of the royal family must give up their royal position when they marry a commoner. This rule has resulted in a decrease in the size of the royal family and a shortage of possible successors to the throne.

Words in This Story

controversy –n. argument that involves many people who strongly disagree about something

rebuke –v. to speak in a way that shows displeasure or anger

rituals –n. (pl.) a formal ceremony or series of acts that is always performed in the same way

couple –n. two people who are to be married or who have an emotional relationship; two people or things that are together

royalty –n. people who are related to a ruler in a country

niece –n. the daughter of your brother or sister

1 fully   

adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地

参考例句：

• The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气，然后全部呼出。
• They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。

2 controversy   

n.争论，辩论，争吵

参考例句：

• That is a fact beyond controversy.那是一个无可争论的事实。
• We ran the risk of becoming the butt of every controversy.我们要冒使自己在所有的纷争中都成为众矢之的的风险。

3 rebuke   

v.指责，非难，斥责 [反]praise

参考例句：

• He had to put up with a smart rebuke from the teacher.他不得不忍受老师的严厉指责。
• Even one minute's lateness would earn a stern rebuke.哪怕迟到一分钟也将受到严厉的斥责。

4 celebrated   

adj.有名的，声誉卓著的

参考例句：

• He was soon one of the most celebrated young painters in England.不久他就成了英格兰最负盛名的年轻画家之一。
• The celebrated violinist was mobbed by the audience.观众团团围住了这位著名的小提琴演奏家。

5 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

6 royalty   

n.皇家，皇族

参考例句：

• She claims to be descended from royalty.她声称她是皇室后裔。
• I waited on tables，and even catered to royalty at the Royal Albert Hall.我做过服务生， 甚至在皇家阿伯特大厅侍奉过皇室的人。

7 disorder   

n.紊乱，混乱；骚动，骚乱；疾病，失调

参考例句：

• When returning back,he discovered the room to be in disorder.回家后，他发现屋子里乱七八糟。
• It contained a vast number of letters in great disorder.里面七零八落地装着许多信件。

8 Christian   

adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒

参考例句：

• They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
• His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。