A look at the events surrounding Japan’s Enthronement Ceremony

With Emperor Naurhito’s Enthronement Ceremony set to take place tomorrow, we are looking at the events that will be taking place.

At 1.00 pm Japanese time, the 30-minute Enthronement Ceremony will take place in the most prestigious place in the Imperial Palace – Matsu no ma. Two of the Three Sacred Treasures (Kusanagi sword and Yasakani no Magatama jewel) will sit beside Emperor Naruhito (dressed in the traditional orange “Korozen no goho”) on the “Takamikura” throne which weighs around eight tonnes and is 6.5-metre-high pavilion. Empress Masako will be seated by her husband, also in traditional robes.

The third of the Sacred Treasures is the Yata no Kagami mirror which stays in the Ise Grand Shrine in Mie Prefecture. The boxes containing the sword and jewel will not be opened during the ceremony, and only the Emperor and the most senior Shinto priests have seen them.

Emperor Naruhito is expected to pledge his life and duty to Japan and to uphold its constitution.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will then give a congratulatory address and lead three cheers for Emperor Naruhito.

That evening, a court banquet will take place at 7.20 pm where dignitaries, Japanese government members and spouses and judicial members will attend. At the same time, Prime Minister Abe will host a banquet at the Hotel New Otani.

On the afternoon of 23 October, Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako will host a tea for the royal guests.

That evening, Tokyo’s Hotel New Otani will be the site of another banquet, hosted by the Emperor, for close to 900 foreign dignitaries and important people.

A procession through the streets of Tokyo by the Emperor and Empress in a new open-top Toyota Century limousine had been planned for this week; however, damage from Typhoon Hagibis has postponed the parade until November. Reports suggest 78 died as a result of the devastating storm.

For a list of who will be attending, click here. In total, around 2,500 people are expected to attend in some form or another. Japan invited representatives from 194 of the 195 countries they have relations to (excluding Syria) for the festivities; 174 countries will be represented.

Royal Central will keep you updated as the events take place.