How did the traditional Naruhito’s enthronrmrnt ceremony unfold?

Japan’s new emperor Naruhito was formally enthroned in an elaborate ceremony at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on October 22. Dignitaries from over 180 countries attended the ceremony.

Though the ceremony marked his formal ascension to the throne, Naruhito had already begun his reign on May 1, a day after his father and former emperor Akihito abdicated.

The emperor has no political power under Japan’s constitution, but Naruhito’s enthronement is still an important moment for the country, as he is the first emperor born after the end of World War II.

Japan is among the many countries that still have monarchy. Some monarchs go by the title of king or queen, while others are referred to as emperor, sultan or emir. The extent of power they would depends on each country.

A series of ancient ceremonies marked the formal ascension of Naruhito, Japan’s 126th emperor, to the Chrysanthemum throne.

Naruhito wore a ceremonial sokutai attire, which included a brown-gold outer robe with long an wide sleeves. He proclaimed his enthronement in front of around 2,000 guests, including heads of state and other royals from more than 180 countries.

His formal proclamation read: “I swear that I will act according to the constitution and fulfil my responsibility as the symbol of the state and of the unity of the people.” Later, he took his plate on the 21-foot Takamikura throne, while Empress Masako, his wife, sat in an adjacent throne called Michodai. Masako is a Harvard-educated non-royal whom he married in 1993. She was wearing the multi-layered traditional attire known as junihitoe during the ceremony.

The ceremony was conducted largely in silence in the presence of boxes believed to contain an ancient sword and jewel-scared treasures that serve as symbols of imperial power. Hidden in boxes and wrapped in cloth, they are considered divine artefacts and have never been seen in public. The boxes have been handed down through generations. They date back to the mythical forefather of Japan’s first emperor, Jimmu, who ruled almost 2,700 years ago. Along with a fabled octagonal mirror, they from Japan’s royal regalia, or the Three Scared Treasures.

Earlier in the day, Naruhito donned a white robe to pray at the Shinto shrines in the Imperial Palace. Naruhito’s ascension signalled the start of the “Reiwa” era. Each emperor’s reign is marked by their era name. Naruhito is the first Japanese royal to study abroad. He has pledged to continue his father’s legacy and work to break down the barriers between the emperor and his subjects.

Earlier, Japan pardoned more than half a million people found guilty of petty crimes such as traffic violations to mark the formal ascension of Naruhito.

 
Picture Credit : Google