A new Emperor on the Chrysanthemum Throne

2019年 10月21日


Japan has undergone a great change last year.

The Emperor of Japan Akihito, pillar and symbol of his country, abdicated after 30 years of reign on April the 30th 2019. This decision motivated by his late age caused a lot of ink to flow, which is not surprising: the abdication of an emperor is a first since a long time ago and it implies many new arrengements.

Thus, May the 1st 2019 marked the beginning of a new era: the Reiwa era. It succeededd the former Heisei era. Since the 1867 Meiji restoration, it is customary that a new Japanese Era starts the day after the old Emperor dies.

On Tuesday 22 October 2019, the heir Naruhito will access the Chrysanthemum Throne (name given to the japanese throne in reference to the same flower on the Imperial Seal). This day will be a bank holiday for japanese people.
Naruhito is the 126th emperor of the japanese imperial line, considered the world's oldest continuous hereditary monarchy.

The Japanese enthronement ceremony consists of three main parts.  The second part of the ceremony, called the "Sokui-no-Rei", is the enthronement ritual itself. The future monarch and the future empress will physically access the throne, in front of the whole nation following the ceremony on TV.

After having ritually informed his ancestors that he had taken the throne, the new Emperor receive a simple wooden sceptre, facing his first minsiter, who represent the Japanese people. Then he calls upon his subjects to single-mindedly assist him in attaining all of his aspirations. His prime minister replies with an address promising fidelity and devotion.

Banzai cheering (literally wishing "a hundred lives", consequently a long reign) resonate in unison through all the country, and the Japanese Self-Defense Forces' firing ends the ceremony.

Many internatinal personallities and leaders are awaited and they will enjoy a four-days courts banquet.

The third part - the last and most important called "Daijōsai" - will take place in November. During a ceremony consisting on the offering of rice,  the Emperor Naruhito will be united to the divinity Amaterasu. The japanese monarch is considred divine and the Goddess of Sun Amaterasu déesse is therefore his direct ancestor. You can see it on the crafting below, representing the  Meiji Empreor in the center of shintô gods and former emperors.

 

We are a Japan-based travel agency, click here to contact our experts for more information about your next stay.

Click here to discover our self-guided tours!