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| Naruhito: Japan's emperor to ascend throne in ritual-bound ceremony | Naruhito: Japan's emperor to ascend throne in ritual-bound ceremony |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Japan's Emperor Naruhito is set to formally ascend the throne in an elaborate ceremony on Tuesday. | Japan's Emperor Naruhito is set to formally ascend the throne in an elaborate ceremony on Tuesday. |
| The head of state, 59, officially began his reign in May, but his ascension will only be formalised after he completes a series of rituals. | The head of state, 59, officially began his reign in May, but his ascension will only be formalised after he completes a series of rituals. |
| His ascension comes as Japan reels from the effects of Typhoon Hagibis, which left almost 80 people dead. | |
| A parade celebration has been postponed out of respect for the victims and their families. | A parade celebration has been postponed out of respect for the victims and their families. |
| More than half a million people convicted of petty crimes will also be pardoned to mark the enthronement. | More than half a million people convicted of petty crimes will also be pardoned to mark the enthronement. |
| What will the enthronement ceremony look like? | What will the enthronement ceremony look like? |
| The Sokui no Rei - or the Ceremony of Accession - is set to begin at 13:00 (04:00 GMT) on Tuesday. | The Sokui no Rei - or the Ceremony of Accession - is set to begin at 13:00 (04:00 GMT) on Tuesday. |
| Emperor Naruhito will ascend the 6.5m-high Takamikura throne while clad in a yellow-orange tone robe worn only by emperors on special occasions, according to news site Kyodo. | Emperor Naruhito will ascend the 6.5m-high Takamikura throne while clad in a yellow-orange tone robe worn only by emperors on special occasions, according to news site Kyodo. |
| His wife, Empress Masako, will sit on an adjacent throne. | |
| The ceremony will be conducted in the presence of an ancient sword and jewel - sacred treasures that act as a symbol of imperial power. | The ceremony will be conducted in the presence of an ancient sword and jewel - sacred treasures that act as a symbol of imperial power. |
| The 30-minute long ceremony will end with the emperor delivering a speech, followed by a congratulatory address by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. | The 30-minute long ceremony will end with the emperor delivering a speech, followed by a congratulatory address by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. |
| Dignitaries from more than 170 countries, including the UK's Prince Charles, will be in attendance. | Dignitaries from more than 170 countries, including the UK's Prince Charles, will be in attendance. |
| The emperor will later host a tea party for foreign royalty, while Mr Abe will host a banquet in the evening. | The emperor will later host a tea party for foreign royalty, while Mr Abe will host a banquet in the evening. |
| An enthronement parade, which sees the emperor travel in an open-top car to "meet" the public, has been postponed until 10 Nov. | An enthronement parade, which sees the emperor travel in an open-top car to "meet" the public, has been postponed until 10 Nov. |
| How big of a deal is this? | How big of a deal is this? |
| A pretty huge deal. The last time an enthronement ceremony took place was in 1990, when the then-emperor Akihito formally ascended the throne. | A pretty huge deal. The last time an enthronement ceremony took place was in 1990, when the then-emperor Akihito formally ascended the throne. |
| Former Emperor Akihito, the father of Naruhito, abdicated the throne in April this year, becoming the first monarch to do so in more than 200 years. | Former Emperor Akihito, the father of Naruhito, abdicated the throne in April this year, becoming the first monarch to do so in more than 200 years. |
| He received special legal permission to step down after saying he felt unable to fulfil his role because of declining health. | He received special legal permission to step down after saying he felt unable to fulfil his role because of declining health. |
| The emperor's role is largely ceremonial, focusing on public engagement with citizens and meeting foreign dignitaries. | The emperor's role is largely ceremonial, focusing on public engagement with citizens and meeting foreign dignitaries. |
| Didn't Naruhito already ascend the throne? | Didn't Naruhito already ascend the throne? |
| Emperor Naruhito officially began his reign on 1 May. | Emperor Naruhito officially began his reign on 1 May. |
| According to news site the Japan Times, the ceremonies conducted on that day were "simpler, and meant to signify the inheritance of the throne immediately". | According to news site the Japan Times, the ceremonies conducted on that day were "simpler, and meant to signify the inheritance of the throne immediately". |
| The Sokui no rei will be a much more elaborate affair. | The Sokui no rei will be a much more elaborate affair. |
| It's not uncommon for there to be a gap between the first succession to the throne and the Sokui no rei. | It's not uncommon for there to be a gap between the first succession to the throne and the Sokui no rei. |
| For then Emperor Akihito, there was an almost two-year gap between his succession to the throne and the Sokui no rei. | For then Emperor Akihito, there was an almost two-year gap between his succession to the throne and the Sokui no rei. |
| According to one Japanese expert, the reason for the confusion this time round is because then-Emperor Akihito's abdication broke away from the normal procedure. | According to one Japanese expert, the reason for the confusion this time round is because then-Emperor Akihito's abdication broke away from the normal procedure. |
| Usually, abdications only happen when a royal has passed away. The celebratory enthronement can only take place after at least a year of mourning. | Usually, abdications only happen when a royal has passed away. The celebratory enthronement can only take place after at least a year of mourning. |
| "Normally the way this proceeds is that an emperor dies, and then of course they immediately install the next emperor, but in that case it seems a lot more normal that the main [ascension] ceremony will take place afterwards because [the country] is still in mourning," said Ken Ruoff, author of Japan's Imperial House in the Postwar Era. | "Normally the way this proceeds is that an emperor dies, and then of course they immediately install the next emperor, but in that case it seems a lot more normal that the main [ascension] ceremony will take place afterwards because [the country] is still in mourning," said Ken Ruoff, author of Japan's Imperial House in the Postwar Era. |
| But because the then Emperor Akihito had stepped down, the ascension of Emperor Naruhito was seen as much more of a celebration. | But because the then Emperor Akihito had stepped down, the ascension of Emperor Naruhito was seen as much more of a celebration. |
| "The world just assumed that that was the combined celebration, but the real celebration is what's happening now," Ruoff told the BBC. | "The world just assumed that that was the combined celebration, but the real celebration is what's happening now," Ruoff told the BBC. |
| "It's to this that the international representatives are coming, and incredibly elaborate banquets will be held. | |
| There was also supposed to be a parade. It's not perceived as a big deal [to] the rest of the world who are like 'didn't we already do this?' But it's a big deal for the Japanese." |