Japan's Emperor Proclaims Enthronement in an Ancient Ceremony
Today in Japan, at the Imperial Palace of Tokyo, in an ancient ceremony, Emperor Naruhito officially proclaimed his enthronement. The ceremony was attended by more than a hundred dignitaries from around the world, including the President of Georgia, Salome Zurabishvili.
The ceremony was made to officially announce a change in his status, as his reign began in May of 2019. After Emperor Naruhito’s father, Akihito, (due to health issues) became the first emperor to abdicate in 200 years, Emperor Naruhito took his father’s place as the Head of State.
"I sincerely hope that our country, through our people's wisdom and unceasing efforts, achieves further development and contributes to the friendship and peace of the international community and the welfare and prosperity of humankind,“ said the now-official Emperor Naruhito at his enthronement ceremony on October 22 in Tokyo.
59-year-old Emperor Naruhito - whose name means "a man who will acquire heavenly virtues"- became Japan’s 126th Emperor and the world’s first Emperor to have been born after World War II.
On Friday, October 18, the government announced that about 550,000 petty criminals would be pardoned to mark the emperor's enthronement.
By Nini Dakhundaridze
Image source: CNN