‘Shark Tank’ Contestant — My Fiancee is Still in Japan … FOR NOW!

EXCLUSIVE

“Shark Tank” rival Phillip Lapuz‘s fiance is still stuck in Japan … even though he said she’d go to America if a deal was struck — but don’t worry, there’s a good reason.

In case you missed it, Lapuz balled his eyes out on last night’s episode … saying he couldn’t go his fiancee Mariko to America because his business is not yet a success — so her parents wouldn’t approve.

The waterworks, and biz plot, hooked Robert Herjavec – so it seemed like only a matter of time.

TMZ spoke with the Kronos Golf founder who tells us he had to keep the good news under wraps since the episode was shot back in June — but now that it’s aired … he’s put the clip in an email to Mariko’s parents.

He’s waiting for them to wake up in Japan to get the news he’s bigtime now.

If the in-laws are impressed … he says Mariko should be stateside soon.