UAE royal joins ceremony to welcome Japan’s new emperor
Excitement is growing in Japan before a ceremony today marking Emperor Naruhito’s ascension to the Chrysanthemum Throne.
It is one of several formal ceremonies for Naruhito, 59, who has been a fully fledged emperor since May after the abdication of his father, Akihito.
Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed, Vice Chairman of Abu Dhabi Executive Council, arrived in Tokyo yesterday to attend the enthronement ceremony, which is scheduled to be held at the Imperial Palace.
Attending on behalf of President Sheikh Khalifa and at the invitation of the Japanese government, Sheikh Hazza will take part in the ceremony along with other heads of states and dignitaries.
The enthronement marks the high point of succession rituals that began in May. Today’s ceremony allows Naruhito to proclaim himself Japan’s 126th emperor in a ritual dating back to the seventh century.
Historians say the modern enthronement rituals are largely meant to allow the government to showcase the monarchy to win public support and to preserve the country’s cultural heritage.
Western-style banquets and a procession were added “to bolster national prestige and influence”, said historian Eiichi Miyashiro.
“The imperial family’s own events used to be more modest,” he said.
Despite the time, cost and effort put into it, the ceremony itself will last only 30 minutes. Its climax is the emperor’s proclamation before about 2,000 guests.
Naruhito will wear a formal brownish-orange robe that has been dyed in sappanwood and
Japanese wax tree bark. He will also wear a black headdress decorated with an upright tail – as his father did 30 years ago – in a ceremony at Matsuno-ma, the Imperial Palace’s most prestigious hall.
He will make his proclamation from the Imperial Throne, a 6.5 metre-high decorative structure resembling a gazebo.
Naruhito and Empress Masako have been warmly welcomed by the Japanese public.
The couple won praise when they chatted with US President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump without an interpreter at a banquet in May.
Naruhito has pledged to follow his father’s commitment to pacifism and sympathy for those facing hardship.
He is largely following his father’s examples, but not in the choice of a royal car for his parade.
Although Akihito used a Rolls-Royce Corniche III imported from Britain 30 years ago, Naruhito and Masako will be in a Toyota Century convertible, customised with raised rear seats to provide well-wishers a good view.
To mark the occasion, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s Cabinet is granting pardons to about 550,000 people convicted of petty crimes such as traffic violations and election fraud.
Naruhito will host a threehour court banquet tonight, attended by foreign dignitaries and representatives from Japan’s administrative, legislative and judicial branches.
Foreign guests will be escorted to observe the Imperial Throne and the Empress’ seat on display at the Pine Hall before entering the banquet hall, where a dinner will be served while traditional Japanese court music is performed live, ceremony organisers said.
The enthronement ceremony is also being used for diplomacy by Mr Abe, who is separately hosting a dinner tomorrow, although Naruhito and Masako will not be there.
Guests include Britain’s Prince Charles, Chinese Vice President Wang Qishan and South Korean Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon.