Sitemap

Naruhito Takes Throne as Japan’s First New Emperor in 30 Years

EU, US To Seek Stopgap Standards For AI, EU Tech Chief Says

The European Union and the United States...

Ireland To Introduce World-First Alcohol Health Labelling Policy

Ireland is to become the first country in...

China Overtakes Japan As World’s Top Car Exporter

China says it has become the world's...

Greek Election: Centre-right Mitsotakis Hails Big Win But Wants Majority

Greece's conservative prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has...

Turkey’s Erdogan Prevails In Election Test Of His 20-year Rule

President Tayyip Erdogan extended his two decades in power in elections on Sunday, winning a mandate to pursue increasingly authoritarian policies...

Statement By The Spokesperson Peter Stano On The Latest Tensions And Clashes in Kosovo

European Union strongly condemns the clashes involving Kosovo police and protesters in the north of Kosovo, initiated by the...

Armenia And Azerbaijan Agree On Mutual Recognition Of Territorial Integrity

Armenia and Azerbaijan have agreed on mutual recognition of territorial integrity, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced at the...

Solar Power Due To Overtake Oil Production Investment For First Time -IEA

Investment in clean energy will extend its lead over spending on fossil fuels in 2023, the International Energy Agency...

Introducing First Ever Regional Publication

In the year commemorating 20 years of CorD Magazine it is our great pleasure to announce an exclusive regional publication...

Japan completed the months-long coronation of Emperor Naruhito in an elaborate ceremony in Tokyo, as assembled global royalty and political leaders looked on.

Clad in layers of intricately patterned silk, Naruhito and his consort, Empress Masako, assumed their seats in a ritual at the Imperial Palace in central Tokyo Tuesday. The emperor and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe both gave speeches at the formalities, at which about 180 countries were represented.

“I shall always wish the happiness of the people and the peace of the world, and stay together with the people while acting according to the Constitution and fulfilling my responsibility as the symbol of the state,” the emperor said in a speech during the ceremonies after emerging from behind a purple curtain.

“We will make our utmost efforts to create a peaceful and brilliant future full of hope for a proud Japan,” Abe said in a speech. He then bowed and shouted “Banzai” three times, using a traditional Japanese cry pledging a long life. His comments were followed by a cannon salute that reverberated around the palace.

The ceremony, steeped in centuries of tradition, includes the presentation of the sacred sword and jewel that are part of the imperial regalia, which has been passed through generations of monarchs who have ascended the Chrysanthemum Throne. A parade through the capital in an open-topped limousine set for Tuesday has been put off until Nov. 10 out of respect for the victims of a typhoon earlier in October, which has killed at least 78 people and caused billions of dollars in damage.

Naruhito and Masako will host the first in a series of formal banquets at the palace on Tuesday evening, where traditional court music and dance will be performed. Abe will also host a banquet at a hotel the following day.

Naruhito, 59, is by the Imperial Household Agency’s count, Japan’s 126th emperor. His grandfather Hirohito, was the last emperor designated by tradition to be a living god. After Japan’s defeat in 1945, the U.S. kept Hirohito on the throne to build unity but made the position of emperor one for a mortal who had no say in state policy.

Naruhito inherited the throne after his father, Akihito, became the first Japanese emperor in two centuries to abdicate, citing poor health. A new emperor means a new era in the Japanese calendar, so 2019 has also been dubbed the first year of Reiwa, which the government translates as “beautiful harmony.” Akihito reigned from 1989 for three decades.

Naruhito was the first Emperor to be educated in the West, spending two years at the University of Oxford. One of the imperial couple’s first tasks after his reign began in May was to host U.S. President Donald Trump and his wife Melania on a state visit.

Next in line to the throne is Naruhito’s younger brother, Akishino, 53, followed by Akishino’s son, Hisahito, 13.

Related Articles

China Overtakes Japan As World’s Top Car Exporter

China says it has become the world's biggest exporter of cars after overtaking Japan in the first three months of the year. Officials figures...

Akira Imamura Is The New Ambassador Of Japan To Serbia

The Japanese government appointed Akira Imamura as the new ambassador of Japan to Serbia. H.E. Imamura, a 63-year-old diplomat, previously served as Japan's ambassador to...

Japan Donated 165,000 Euros To Municipalities In Southern Serbia

Donation agreements between the Government of Japan and the public utility company "Jedinstvo" from Bojnik, the elementary school "Vitko i Sveta" from Gadžino Han...

Comment

Why Japanese Companies Are Getting Serbian Addresses

After many years during which bilateral relations between Japan and Serbia were mainly nurtured through good political and cultural relations, the economic perspective is...

H.E. Takahiko Katsumata, Ambassador Of Japan To Serbia

New Start For Further Development

Based on the long history of friendship between Japan and Serbia, and the sharing of values in a wide range of fields, such as...

Goran Pekez, President Of The Japanese Business Alliance In Serbia (JBAS)

Rising Investment Interests

The success stories of our members and interest in cooperating with Japan among local companies are important incentives for new investments and the expansion...

Tatsuro Masuda, First Secretary Of The Embassy Of Japan

Investment In People

Under the leadership of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, Japan is implementing various policies aimed not only at overcoming the difficult circumstances arising from global...

Linas Libikas, JTI General Manager For The Western Balkans

Stability, Transparency And Predictability More Needed Than Ever

The increase in foreign investments in Serbia over the last few years is a clear sign that multinational companies recognise Serbia as a stable...