The Tokyo District Court sentenced a 43-year-old man on Monday to a suspended 18-month prison term for his role in a fake Imperial wedding reception in which some 6.87 million yen in cash and a valuable painting were collected from guests.
According to the court, Shinya Kusunoki assisted 42-year-old Yasuyuki Kitano, who claimed to be a prince of the Arisugawa Imperial family and called himself Satohito Arisugawa, and Harumi Sakamoto, 46, to hold their wedding reception in Tokyo in April 2003.
"The defendant had known (the groom) was not a member of the Imperial family on the day before the reception at the latest, but still assisted" his partners, presiding Judge Takaaki Oshima said. "The act is malicious, because the defendant took advantage of people's respect toward the Imperial family and its members."
Kitano and Sakamoto are still on trial.