Is Princess Mako's college sweetheart — who officially becomes her husband on Tuesday — worthy of her? It’s no secret that the couple has had difficulty winning the Japanese public's blessing, and a large part of the country has already formed their own, polarized opinions.

Why is this royal wedding — or at this stage, this simple registration of a marriage to make it official — coming under such criticism? Financial issues surrounding the mother of the groom appear to be the main reason. But the Imperial Household Agency’s media strategy may have made matters worse.

The marriage of Princess Mako and Kei Komuro, 30, now delayed for four years, has from the start been overshadowed by the financial disputes involving Komuro's family, giving the impression that he is out for money, not for love.