Lawsuit looms over enthronement fund

TOKYO: Dozens of Japanese citizens, including members of Christian groups and Buddhist monks, are planning to sue the government over its plan to use taxpayer money for ceremonies next year to mark the new emperor’s enthronement.

At least 120 people plan to launch the lawsuit in early De cember, arguing that funding what they deem are religious ceremo nies from the national budget vio lates the constitutional principle separating religion and state.

Naruhito’s ascent to the Chrysan themum throne set for May 1, the day after his father Emperor Akihito abdicates.

against the government when Aki hito was enthroned in 1990 after the death of his father Emperor Hirohito.

All of the cases at that time were thrown out, but one upper court said it cannot deny the suspicion that some ceremonies violate the principle of religion and state.

“At the last enthronement, some

there was certain public support,” Koichi Shin, one of those planning to take the government to court,

He said that ceremonies in 1990 cost around 12.3 billion yen at the time ($108 million at the current exchange rate). The budget for next year’s ceremonies has not been made public.

After the May enthronement, the government also plans to hold two major ceremonies, one in October and the other in No vember, following the example of 30 years ago.

“These are religious ceremo nies based on imperial Shin toism,” a form of an ancient Japanese religion where Japanese royal families practice ritual cer emonies, Shin said.