What could explain the sudden return of a smiling Prince Harry we used to know when he took his recent solo tour of Japan and Singapore?
Was he happy with the brief absence from family duties the trip allowed him?
Has the warmth of the welcome he received dispelled the dark clouds that so often seem to hang around the Duke of Sussex?
Or maybe it’s due to the influence of the New Age guru who hosted Harry in Japan: the wealthy philanthropist, golfer, and sometime conductor, Haruhisa Handa, 72.
Dr. Handa, who manages more than a dozen companies, is said to have made a fortune publishing more than 220 self-help books, and even founded his own religion.
Dr. Haruhisa Handa, 72, who manages more than a dozen companies, is the multimillionaire philanthropist who organized Prince Harry’s visit to Japan
The Duke of Sussex, 38, was welcomed on stage by ISPS founder Handa at the ISPS (International Sports Promotion Society) Sports Values Summit on Wednesday, August 9
The Duke of Sussex is greeted by Haruhisa Handa in Tokyo last week
In addition to his vocation as an operatic baritone, Dr. Handa claims to be a ballet dancer and artist in calligraphy, as well as an actor, golfer and poet who has had works of art displayed in the British Museum.
He would be honorary consul of Cambodia.
Prince Harry isn’t Handa’s only royal connection. The multimillionaire philanthropist has longstanding ties to the British Royal Family.
Prince William received Dr. Handa in May 2019 at Kensington Palace thanks to the philanthropist’s role as founder of ISPS Handa, an organization that sponsors sporting events.
Founded in 2006, it aims to harness the “transformative power of sport around the world.”
Zara Phillips, daughter of Princess Anne and former Olympic rider, plus her former England rugby captain Mike Tindall and brother Peter Phillips are all ambassadors for ISPS Handa.
Dr. In fact, Handa, who also goes by the names Toshu Fukami and Toto Ami, was received at Buckingham Palace by Prince Andrew as early as 2010, according to the Court Circular.
The Duke of York gave him a dinner in January 2011 in honor of Dr Handa’s role as President of the International Foundation for Arts and Culture.
Dr. However, Handa has not been without controversy.
In 1994, his faith community, then known as Powerful Cosmo Mate, was referred to prosecutors over allegations that it had failed to declare approximately $50 million in income.
And in October of the same year, he settled out of court two sexual harassment claims filed by female followers.
Harry seemed delighted and thanked the crowd as he was welcomed by Dr. Handa
Dr. Handa is said to have made a fortune publishing hundreds of self-help books
The eccentric New Age guru also faced two civil lawsuits over claims he received donation money in exchange for claimed healing. In the end, the government never proved any wrongdoing.
Prince Harry was in South East Asia to participate in his Sentebale Polo Cup, sponsored by ISPS Handa, to benefit young people in South Africa.
The Prince also took part in a panel discussion with former New Zealand rugby player Dan Carter, an ambassador for ISPS Handa.
Dr. Handa’s self-help DVDs, lucky gifts, and rescue books preach how happiness can be found through spiritual and material prosperity, and his Shinto-based religion called World Mate has up to 50,000 followers.
He is reported to have written in one of his recent books, “Good luck comes to you from the stars of the universe.”
Handa has been described as ‘one of the most fascinating and seductive figures in Japan’ by Forbes magazine
Another message promises his followers: “The stars also have a spirit world, from which power is sent. I’ll teach you how to get it, a secret that you can possess the happy power of the stars.’
Handa loves publicity. He once released a photo of himself in the center of Leonardo da Vinci’s painting, The Last Supper.
He even conducted a concert at the Royal Albert Hall, but to what effect is unclear.
The Guardian’s critic described a performance by Handa at a concert in St John’s Smith Square, Westminster, as ‘the worst musical performance I have ever heard in public’.
Forbes Magazine has described as ‘one of the most fascinating and seductive figures in Japan’.
In addition to his work for the ISPS, Handa is also the founder of the Japanese Blind Golf Association, chancellor and professor at the University of Cambodia and Zhejiang Gongshang University.