Hundreds of dignitaries to attend as Japan’s new emperor declares enthronement

TOKYO: New Japanese Emperor Naruhito is set to proclaim his enthronement to the world next week in a centuries-old ceremony attended by some 2,500 people, including heads of state and other dignitaries from nearly 200 countries.

Naruhito, 59, acceded to the throne in May after his father, Akihito, became the first monarch to abdicate in two centuries.

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Following are the main events planned for Oct 22, a one-off national holiday.

ENTHRONEMENT CEREMONY

Naruhito, like his father nearly three decades ago, will wear a traditional robe and headdress to the ceremony that will start at 1pm local time 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 6.5m high pavilion that weighs about 8 tonnes – with a sword and a jewel, two of the so-called Three Sacred Treasures, placed beside him.

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Together with a mirror called Yata-no-Kagami, which is kept at the Ise Grand Shrine, the holiest site in Japan's Shinto religion, the ancient sword and jewel comprise the regalia that symbolises the legitimacy of the 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.

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 (US$148 million) has been earmarked for succession-related ceremonies throughout the year, including the enthronement ceremony.

DIPLOMACY

Abe has said representatives from more than 190 countries and international organizations will likely join the celebration.

Those include Britain's Prince Charles, who along with Princess Diana also attended Akihito's enthronement ceremony, US Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao, Chinese Vice President Wang Qishan and South Korean Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon.

Domestic media said Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the kingdom's de facto ruler, and Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan will also likely attend, and that Abe will hold talks with some 50 foreign leaders.

PARADE

The enthronement ceremony will be followed by a motorcade in which Naruhito and Empress Masako, his Harvard-educated, ex-diplomat wife, will ride in an open-top Toyota Century limousine through central Tokyo for half an hour from 3.30pm local time.

Some 120,000 people, many waving national flags, lined the route to cheer Akihito and Empress Michiko as they passed by in a RoRead More – Source