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Emperor Naruhito to proclaim enthronement today

thomas

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14 Mar 2002
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Unfortunately, it's a rainy day today with Typhoon No. 20 just passing through but the preparations for Emperor Naruhito's enthronement ceremony have commenced on this one-off public holiday. If you are in Japan you can watch the ceremony live on TV from 1 p.m. Naruhito is the 126th emperor according to Japan's formal order of succession.


ENTHRONEMENT CEREMONY

Emperor Naruhito, like his father nearly three decades ago, will wear a traditional robe and headdress to the ceremony that will start at 1:00 p.m. (0400 GMT) at the Imperial Palace's Matsu-no-ma, or Hall of Pine, the most prestigious space in the palace. He will declare his enthronement from the "Takamikura" - a 6.5-metre-high (21-foot) pavilion that weighs about 8 tonnes - with a sword and a jewel, two of the so-called Three Sacred Treasures, placed beside him. Together with a mirror called Yata-no-Kagami, kept at the Ise Grand Shrine, the holiest site in Japan's Shinto religion, the ancient sword and jewel comprise the regalia that symbolizes the legitimacy of the emperor. Emperor Akihito pledged during the previous ceremony in 1990 to observe Japan's pacifist constitution and fulfil his duty as a symbol of the state and of the unity of the people. Emperor Naruhito's proclamation will be followed by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's congratulatory address. Abe will then lead three cheers for the new emperor, bringing the 30-minute ceremony to a close. About 16.1 billion yen ($148 million) has been earmarked for succession-related ceremonies throughout the year, including the enthronement.

Source: Hundreds of dignitaries to attend as Japan's emperor declares enthronement | The Guardian

Below, the emperor's 6.5-metre-high Takamikura throne as well as the Michōdai throne the empress will ascend during the ceremony.



The emperor will be dressed in a sokutai (束帯), a formal garment worn by male members of the imperial family and courtiers, on this special occasion of dark orange colour. Below, Emperor Akihito in formal attire during his ascension to the throne in 1990 wearing the dark orange sokutai, with a shaku (笏), a sort of sceptre shaped like a flat baton and a kanmuri (冠), a formal hat.

emperor-akihito-enthronement.jpg


Two of the three imperial regalia will be used in the ceremony.

Here's a screenshot of Empress Masako on her way to greet Sun goddess Amaterasu this morning.

empress-masako.jpg


The official parade planned for the afternoon was postponed in light of the damage caused by Typhoon No. 19 and will be held on 10 November.



More to follow.
 
"Here's a screenshot of Empress Masako on her way to greet Sun goddess Amaterasu this morning. "

I think Amaterasu has buggered off to Hawaii - it's chucking it down outside!
 
And while the enthronement procedure and the banquet for a select few domestic and international guests went smoothly, it is worth mentioning that not everyone here in Japan is in favour of the imperial system. Some media even reported on those (admittedly small) rallies held last Tuesday:



 
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