This year world's oldest hereditary monarchy had its first Imperial Transition in 21st century. Japan saw its second Imperial succession under the post-war constitution (limiting the sovereign to a state symbol). Akihito made history becoming the first Japanese Emperor to abdicate in over two centuries, and his son Naruhito repeated a series of ancient rituals to officiate his enthronement. Now, as its final parts are completed, here are a few of words about each one of them, & the interpretation of their significance as well!
On April 30, 2019, the Heisei period ended. After 30 years of "achieving peace", Emperor Akihito (85) officially announced his abdication to the 'representatives of the people' in a pre-arranged simple ceremony (called Taiirei-Seiden-no-gi), at Tokyo's Imperial palace. The entire adult Imperial family was present. The succession occured on the stroke of midnight to May 1, when new, Reiwa period began. It was like another new year for Japanese people, many of whom gathered in decorated capital to celebrate the beginning of "beautiful harmony", with their calendar years reset by the new era. It was perhaps the first time the nation could enjoy an epoch change (coinciding with a new reign for over 150 years) without mourning the death of an Emperor. The first part of new Emperor's Enthronement was completed on that, May 1 morning. It consisted of the Kenji-tō-Shōkei-no-gi ceremony, in which Naruhito (59) inherited the three Imperial Regalia of Japan (two of them were present, covered) & the Privy and state seal as well. It was held at the same (Matsu-no-Ma) Pine Hall of the Imperial palace, in absolute silence, with just the new Emperor, his male adult heirs & government ministers present. The conclusive ceremony, Sokui-go-Chōken-no-gi followed in half-a-hour with similar solemnity, simplicity & attendance with his father's previous day's abdication.
Their Imperial Majesties, pictured in early October (this year)
New Emperor Naruhito sending ritual-credentials to shrines
All those formal ceremonies were joined by numerous religious rituals, shrine visits & deployment of representatives (to holy sites), symbolising both the (thousand years old) Imperial family's continuity & also its traditional connection with Shinto religion (despite the semi-divine status it stipulates to the Emperor was abolished after the end of WWII). These rites were to be culminated with the second & third parts of enthronement in October & November, respectively.
Emperor Naruhito & Empress Masako welcoming the POTUS on May 27
The Emperors & Empresses of Heisei (right) & Reiwa
(left) period (that changed on April 30/May 1 this year)
Following their assumption of the throne, Emperor Naruhito & his wife Empress Masako (55), began immediately to respond the official duties as their constitutional position dictates. The same time they tried to modernise Imperial family's manners, bringing it closer than before to general public, & also following the footsteps of their pacifist predecessors, nowEmperor Emeritus Akihito & Empress Emerita Michiko. Thus, Gosokui-Ippan-Sanga (first balcony greeting) was parted from the scheduled October events & transfered to Saturday May 4, so to make the new Emperor's first contact with the people as soon as possible. Several other public evens were presided over by the new Imperial Couple, starting from June. In late July & early October, His Majesty opened New National Diet (parliamentary) Sessions, one of his formal obligations as Head of State. On August 15, the Emperor & Empress presided over the annual memorial service for (World) War (II) Dead for the first time. Naruhito, the first Japanese monarch born after WWII, used his father's expression of "deep remorse" for war aggressions, concluding his address by wishing peace in Japan & across the world. Having used similar phrases in his previous statements, His Majesty - the first emperor, educated in Oxford - seems to place an even more tolerant way into his manner, passed down by his predecessor.
Typhoon Hagibis, seen from space at its first stage (Oct. 12)
Ahead of the state Imperial Enthronement, Japanese government symbolically pardoned & released 550,000 prisoners, convicted of minor crimes, the first such exceptional act of excuse since 1993. In middle October 2019, just ten days before the second part of the Imperial Enthronement, Japan was hit by catastrophic typhoon Hagibis, causing nearly 100 deaths & widespread damage of properties. The Emperor & Empress expressed their condolences to the bereaved families, wishing the lives of affected to return to normal as soon as possible. Naruhito's mother, former Empress Michiko turned 85 on October 20, and all arranged public celebrations were cancelled out of respect.
Monarchs & royalty from various countries at the Imperial Palace
Imperial Family members & government officials cheering Banzai
But the main state ceremony went on as normal on Tuesday, 22 October, despite continuous heavy rain. All began with a prelude ritual (called Kashikodokoro-Ōmae-no-gi) at 9am, when His Majesty, dressed in pure white robes, visited the Imperial Palace's three sanctuaries, to report his enthronement proclamation to deities & ancestral spirits, followed by Her Majesty & other members of the Imperial family. Then, the proclamation itself (Sokurei Seiden-no-gi) followed at 1pm at Matsu-no-Ma State Hall. It was broadcasted live across the world, & attended by high-level state officials from 194 countries. However, in the room just members of the government & Imperial family were present, dressed (most of the latter) in ancient court dresses with women wearing colourful kimono of multiple layers. Other dignitaries observed the event from large screens in nearby rooms. Two octagonal sthrone-constructions on large square pedestral platforms & covered by curtains were specially transfered to Pine Room from the palace of former capital Kyoto. Takamikura - the Emperor's 6.5-metre Chrysanthemum throne was surmounted by a large golden replica of Phoenix on its top, while Michodai - used for the Empress, was its copy, ~a metre shorter. An ancient gong made a piercing sound & all dignitaries stood. The curtains were removed by servants; Their Imperial Majesties appeared. The Emperor, dressed into the sokutai formal attire (compared to Sun's colour), kept a small wooden scepter on his right hand. Two of the Imperial Regalia & the Seals of State (Yasakani no Magatama) & the Sovereign (Kusanagi), placed by his sides. The Empress, wearing the 12-layered junihitoe stood firmly on her platform.
Empress Masako wearing her 'junihitoe' 12-layered kimono
Attendants of Sokurei Seiden-no-gi pronouncing "Banzai"
The Prime Minister (Shinzō Abe) then entered the room with slow steps, and stoping in front of Takamikura, he bowed. Naruhito received his first Speech from the throne by a waiter and proclaimed his accession to the throne to the representatives of the people in Japan & abroad. After he handed back his (short but comprehensive) speech & took back his sceptre, the Prime Minister (dressed in a formal suit) unveiled his congratulatory message & read it 'on behalf of the people'. The fact that representatives of the people stood at the same room with the Emperor (& not on a floor bellow) the abolition of his supremacy and has been implemented since the enthronement of former Emperor Akihito (back in 1990). When Abe finished his also short speech (both men spoke for barely five minutes together), he stepped back & led the traditional cheers of TennoHeika "Banzai (x3)" (literaly meaning 'a thousand years of life to His Majesty the Emperor'); the Ground Self-Defence Force fired 21-gun salutes making Naruhito's Enthronement formal. The ceremony was over & the Imperial family left the room from a glass-wall corridor, by order of seniority. Outside, in palace grounds, one of the dozens Imperial banners displayed, wrote 'Ban-Zai' with golden scripture.
In the evening, Their (newly enthroned) Majesties hosted a glittering Gala Banquet at the Imperial Palace, featuring both black-tie western suits, jewelleries & tiaras; and several traditional dresses as well, from foreign guests. The latter, all dignitaries, state officials, monarchs & royalty from around the world, had the chance to see the Imperial throne platforms displayed at Matsu-no-Ma, before being escorted to banqueting hall. The attendees included 14 (of 30) current Sovereign monarchs from all continents, eight royal consorts, nine current heirsorregents & a former Sovereign Co-Prince of Andorra (Nicolas Sarkozy). Sovereigns with the longest reigns were seated on the main table with the Imperial Couple at its centre. Guests were treated with local epochal food, & accompanied by a soft classical music piece, before going to another coctail-room where they enjoyed (in standing) traditional Japanese songs & choral performances. Next day (October 23) Their Majesties hosted a tea party for the few remaining foreign royals at their current Akasaka residence, also attended by the former Imperial Couple (Akihito & Michiko), who were not present at any of previous events, in a clear sign of complete succession. Festivities continued with a state banquet, hosted by Prime Minister for foreign leaders (on Oct. 23), while the Imperial Couple participated in a series of three more Court Banquets (Kyōen-no-gi) for members of national Diet on October 25, 29 & 31.
Emperor Naruhito & Empress Masako host Tea Party for foreign Monarchs & Royals at their 'Akasaka' Imperial Residence
At one of Kyōen-no-gi Court banquets
Emperor & Empress greeting with their butterlamps
Due to the typhoon tragedy, some public festivities were also postponed until November. The weekend of November 9-10 series of national festivals took place across Tokyo in occasion of the Imperial enthronement. One of them took place at the Imperial Palace Plaza (in Tokyo) with Their Imperial Majesties in attendance, standing on a stone bridge. Therefrom they heard Prime Minister Shinzō Abe delivering a congratulatory speech, with a number of songs by popular artists performed. The event concluded with a thanksgiving speech by the Emperor, who also wishing a quick recuperation to the disaster victims; before TM departed, they greeted the gathered public, hearing back numerous cheers of "Banzai" in the rhythme they waved them with their butterlamps.
On Sunday, November 10, the Imperial motorcade procession (Shukuga-Onretsu-no-gi) took place, rescheduled from 3pm of October 22. Thousands of people from across Japan had gathered in the streets of Tokyo (where strict trafic limitations & security measures had been done from early on) to take a glimpse of their new sovereign couple, proceeding en route from their future residence (Imperial palace) to their current one (Akasaka Estate). Their Majesties appeared from the palace, dressed in western formal attires, and heard national anthem Kimigayo, performed by musicians of the Imperial Household Agency. Then they took their seats on the sedan of (single time issued) Toyota Century covertible, with a Japanese flag & Imperial seal embodied, and began the 4.6 km route in a slow speed. The open-top Imperial limousine was escorted by police motorbikes & followed by vehicles of Crown Prince & Crown Princess Akishino and the Prime Minister, forming a 400m long procession. It was the second-in-lifetime parade of such kind for Naruhito & Masako after that on their wedding in June 1993 (while military bands, displayed at some checkpoints, played a song, written for the wedding day). The weather was sunny & The Imperial Couple broadly smiled, greeting the public all time during the ~half-a-hour distance they made. Upon reaching Akasaka residence, Their Majesties departed from their car & heard once again Kimigayo played by members of the Imperial guard, before entering the palace along with the rest of officials who followed them.
Their Imperial Majesties (right) & the Crown Prince Couple (left)
Full wall painting of Sun Goddess Amaterasu-omikami (Ōhirume-no-muchi-no-kami), "emerging grom the cave".
The third & final part of Naruhito's complete succession had to do with the religious connection of Japanese monarchy. It was the Daijō-Sai, or Great Thanksgiving Festival, which took place on the evening of November 14 and lasted till the early hours of the 15th. According to the legend, this is when the Emperor is "united" with Sun GoddessAmaterasu-omikami (mythological ancestress of the first Japanese Emperor), & thus is formally recognised as her reincarnation on earth (in fact, a demi-god). However, this ritual has for long time been controversial, given that Naruhito's grandfather, Emperor Shōwa (Hirohito) rejected his alleged divine nature following Japan's defeat in WWII. But it is still implemented even after the separation of religion from the state, as a long symbol of imperial tradition, connecting past & present. Furthermore, this ritual reminds Japan's militaristic past, when nationalist expansion & war attrocities were performed in the name of the Emperor. Neverthenless, the past two times (since 1990), though not considered as a state event, Daijōsai retaines its symbolism, and is funded from government budget as official functions. This year it costed ~25 million $US.
The ritual itself is rooted into the importance of rice harvest process in Japan, participated by the Emperor once a year. For Daijōsai a special shrine of wooden rooms was build within the Imperial palace complex; there the Emperor & Empress (Crown Prince & other Imperial family members) arrived dressed in pure (white) robes. The entire process is spesific: HM enteres the buildings, bowes & prayes to goddess for world peace (heiwa), then he kneels & offers harvested rice (and other domestic rural & marine products as well); following some more rituals he also eates past of the offerings, to gain union with Amaterasu. Present along with the Emperor are several servants (who, replacing white carpets on each step, assure that he would never step to the floor) & two maiden, serving the goddess. A special bed, "used" only by Sun Goddess, is placed inside a room of the shrine; in past (before post-war constitution was adopted) the Emperor reportedly 'slept with the Goddess' in that bed, though now he doesn't use it anymore. Currently, the main part of process takes 3 hours (7-10pm) & is repeated again later in the night (12-3am). The buildings are demolished after their single use. Following Daijōsai, Naruhito's formal enthronement as the 126th Emperor of Japan was completed, though two more Imperial palace' feasts (Daikyō-no-gi) were held to celebrate it on November 16 & 18. Further religious rituals & shrine visits are still going on until early December.
Imperial family attending first Daikyō-no-gi (Nov. 16)
Imperial family members at the second Daikyō-no-gi (Nov. 18)
Takamikura - Chrysanthemum throne
And now, the Imperial Succession is concluded. But boundaries still remain. First, age limitations. None of abovementioned official ceremonies was attended by members of the Imperial family, bellow the (reached) age of 18. Whatever the loyalty with conservative tradition might be, such exception was already made for the heir to the throne back in 1915! Second - gender criteria. The law of succession forbids female to ascend the Imperial throne & obliges them to leave the Imperial family upon marriage with a commoner. Thus, the new Imperial Couple's only child, Aiko, Princess Toshi (who turns 18 on December 1) is out of succession, and after his brother (who will be officially named Crown Prince on April 19, 2020), the only heir from the younger generation is his nephew, Prince Hisahito, 13; the Emperor's elderly childless uncle is not likely to succeed the throne. Given the fact that the Imperial family has no other eligible heirs, & that the majority of its young members are female, there is a serious concern about the continuity of Japanese monarchy, that survived for thousands of years. Over-protection measures are already taken (eg separate plane flights for two heirs in a joint official trip) & Imperial wives have already suffered a lot of pressure to produce a male heir. However, there still were times in Japan with female Empresses-Regnants! But currently post war constitution excluded them, as it did to several male branches of Imperial House. Should it at least return them the succession right, part of the problem will be already solved. But here, is the third (and most complex) boundary; that of the constitution itself! For a one-off bill, allowing only the previous Emperor to abdicate, 18 months of debates were needed. Then it was imminent. Now is it? For current government, trying to increase the image of the Imperial family, it may be important. But, are they too conservative to proceed even to disscussions about possible changes of the Imperial House? Or they are fearful of the outrage (from both sides) it may cause nationwide? In any way, in order to achieve another Banzai (orten thousands years of life) for Japanese monarchy, adaptive actions should be taken, in the same spirit of modern Japan: to embody the new, retaining the old's quality! Should it be only male branches, or more; History will shaw everything on the proper time!
Kyoto palace, where Takamikura & Michodai are customary kept
Previous publications, that are related to Japanese Imperial Succession written this year:
