Yasuyuki Kitano, who claimed to be Satohito Arisugawa, a member of a branch of the Imperial family.

Yasuyuki Kitano, 44, and Harumi Sakamoto, 47, staged the sham wedding in April 2003 by pretending to be members of the Arisugawa family, part of the Imperial line that can be traced back to 1625 to Prince Yoshihito, the son of Emperor Goyozei.

Presiding Judge Takaaki Oshima said 76 of the 137 people named in the indictment were aware the man was no royal, and did not recognize the swindling charges for their part.

The court acknowledged that the couple took in around ¥2.94 million and a painting.

"It was a malicious crime that took advantage of the people's reverence toward the Imperial family," the judge said.

Kitano and Sakamoto pleaded not guilty.

Kitano said that he was entitled to the name Satohito Arisugawa because he was named so, and Sakamoto claimed that she still believes Kitano is a member of the Imperial household.

The Arisugawa family existed for 10 generations and about 300 years, but the lineage ended when Prince Takehito died in 1913 with no male heir.

The Japan Times Weekly: Sept. 16, 2006
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