Japanese Emperor Naruhito and his wife Empress Masako swapped ceremonial robes for white tie dress as they attended a banquet to mark his formal ascension to the throne on Tuesday.
The pair were pictured smiling as they arrived at the court banquet, in Tokyo, in the evening following a day of pomp and ceremony which saw three cheers of ‘banzai’ – meaning ‘long live the king’ – ring through the corridors of the Imperial Palace.
Around 2,000 guests from 180 different countries attended the event during the day, before donning their finery for the evening’s entertainment.
Britain’s Prince Charles, King Felipe and Queen Letizia of Spain, and Sweden’s Karl XVI Gustaf and Crown Princess Victoria were among the crowd who gathered for a show by court entertainers, followed by a sit-down meal.
Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako of Japan attend a white tie banquet in Tokyo to mark his formal ascension to the
King Felipe and Queen Letizia of Spain (left) and Queen Maxima and King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands (right) arrive to attend a former banquet to mark the Emperor of Japan ascension to the throne
King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and Queen Jetsun Pema of Bhutan arrive in traditional evening dress
Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako (centre left and right) sit at the head of the banqueting hall alongside the Sultan of Brunei (far left) and King Karl XVI Gustaf of Sweden (far right)
Dignitaries attending the evening banquet filed past the royal couple and bowed in greeting before being treated to entertainment and dinner
Court entertainers put on a show for royal attendees ahead of a banquet for the newly-enthroned Emperor
Crown Princess Victoria (L) of Sweden and her father Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden arrive at the Imperial Palace for the banquet
Britain’s Prince Charles (left) and Prince Albert II of Monaco (right) arrive during the white tie banquet
Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy (left) and Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro (right) were among current and former heads of state to attend the day’s events
Prince Turki bin Mohamed bin Fahd bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia (left) arrives at the evening banquet
Sayyid Assad bin Tariq bin Taimur Al Said, Deputy Prime Minister for International Relations and Cooperation Affairs and Special Representative for His Majesty the Sultan of Oman (right) arrives at the banquet
Naruhito became emperor and his wife Masako became empress on May 1 in a brief ceremony, but Tuesday’s ‘Sokui no Rei’ was a more elaborate ritual at the royal palace in which he officially announced his change in status to the world.
‘I swear that I will act according to the constitution and fulfil my responsibility as the symbol of the state and of the unity of the people,’ the 59-year-old declared, his voice slightly hoarse, in front of about 2,000 guests, including Britain’s Prince Charles.
‘I sincerely hope that Japan will develop further and contribute to the friendship and peace of the international community, and to the welfare and prosperity of human beings through the people’s wisdom and ceaseless efforts.’
The first Japanese emperor born after World War Two, Naruhito acceded to the throne when his father, Akihito, became the first Japanese monarch to abdicate in two centuries after worrying that advancing age might make it hard to perform official duties. He is 85.
The long-planned celebrations, for which Japan declared a national holiday, were tempered by Typhoon Hagibis, which killed at least 82 people when it tore through Japan 10 days ago, and pouring rain early on Tuesday.
A public parade was postponed until next month to allow the government to devote its attention to the typhoon clean-up, while Tuesday’s inclement weather forced the palace to scale back the number of courtiers in ancient robes taking part in the courtyard ceremony although the skies cleared as it began.
At the sound of a gong in the Matsu-no-Ma, or Hall of Pine, the most prestigious room in the palace, two courtiers bowed deeply and drew back purple curtains on the ‘Takamikura’ – a 6.5-metre (21 feet) high pavilion that weighs about 8 tonnes.
Naruhito was revealed standing in front of a simple throne, dressed in burnt-orange robes and a black headdress, with an ancient sword and a boxed jewel, two of the so-called Three Sacred Treasures, placed beside him.
Fifty-five-year-old Harvard-educated Empress Masako, wearing heavy 12-layered robes and with hair flowing down her back, stood in front of a smaller throne to the side. Such traditional robes can weigh around 15 kilogrammes (33 pounds).
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe delivered a congratulatory speech before assembled dignitaries including Crown Prince Akishino, the emperor’s younger brother, and his family, all adorned in brightly-coloured robes. Other guests included U.S. Transport Secretary Elaine Chao and Myanmar civilan leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
Abe led a trio of cheers of ‘banzai’, or ‘long life’, for the emperor, before a 21-gun salute.
‘As he is young and energetic with outstanding leadership, I hope he’ll support the people of Japan, which has faced continuous disasters and typhoons,’ said Tomoko Shirakawa, 51, who was among the crowds of umbrella-clutching citizens packing the area in front of the palace.
A court banquet is due to be held on Tuesday evening, before Naruhito and Masako host a tea party for foreign royalty on Wednesday afternoon.
Emperor Naruhito (left) stands inside the ornate Takamikura throne room and Empress Masako (right) stands inside the smaller Michodai during a ceremony to officially mark his ascension to Japan’s Chrysanthemum Throne
Standing alongside the new Emperor during the ceremony was his wife, Empress Masako, who rarely takes part in royal ceremonies amid concerns for her health
Empress Masako – dressed in a royal robe which can weigh as much as 33lbs, making it difficult to walk – leaves the Pine Room at Tokyo’s Imperial Palace after the ceremony
Naruhito read a short speech confirming his enthronement in which he swore to uphold Japan’s constitution, fulfil his role as a symbol of the state, and unite the country’s 127million people
Britain’s Prince Charles chatting with Denmark’s Crown Princess Mary and Crown Prince Frederik while attending the enthronement ceremony where Japan’s Emperor Naruhito officially proclaims his ascension to the Chrysanthemum Throne
Swedish King Carl XVI Gustaf (front row left) and his daughter Crown Princess Victoria (front row second left), Cambodia’s King Norodom Sihamoni (second row left), Bhutan’s King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck (second row fourth from left) and Queen Jetsun Pema (second row third from left) attending the enthronement ceremony
Belgium’s King Philippe (centre right) and Queen Mathilde (centre left) attending the enthronement ceremony where Japan’s Emperor Naruhito officially proclaims his ascension to the Chrysanthemum Throne
Shinzo Abe raises his hands above his head while shouting ‘banzai’, which literally translates as ‘10,000 years of life’ but means something similar to ‘long live the Emperor’
Courtesans and officials raise their arms with chants of ‘banzai’ during a ceremony inside the Room of Pine at Tokyo’s Imperial Palace to mark Naruhito’s official ascension to the throne
Prince Charles stands next to Crown Princess Mary of Denmark (left) as the ceremony takes place, while Queen Letizia of Spain and her husband King Felipe VI (right) also look on
Japan’s Crown Prince Akishino (right), Naruhito’s brother, and his wife Crown Princess Kiko (second right) arrive at the Imperial Palace along with their relatives ahead of Tuesday’s ceremony
Ahead of the enthronement ceremony, Naruhito went to the Kashikodokoro shrine at the Imperial Sanctuaries to report the start of the rituals to the Shinto deities including goddess Amaterasu, the mythological ancestress of Japan’s emperors
Empress Masako wearing white joins her husband to report the enthronement ceremony to the Shinto deities, ahead of the ceremony itself
Fumihito, Naruhito’s brother and officially known as Japanese Crown Prince Akishino (in orange), leaves the ceremony hall after the rituals have taken place
Akishino’s wife, Kiko, officially known as Crown Princess Akishino, follows him out of the ceremony hall
Japan’s Prince Hitachi leaves at the end of the enthronement ceremony of Japan’s Emperor Naruhito
King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia (right) watch the enthronement ceremony alongside Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani (centre), the Emir of Qatar
Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy (left) and Duke Henri of Luxembourg arrive at the Imperial Palace to attend the proclamation ceremony
Sweden’s King Carl XVI Gustaf, left, and Crown Princess Victoria, right, arrive at the Imperial Palace to attend the ceremony
King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium (left) and Thailand’s Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, and his wife, Naraporn Chan-ocha (right) were among the 2,000 guests
Mongolia’s President Khaltmaagiin Battulga arrives at the Imperial Palace to attend the enthronement ceremony
Rodrigo Duterte (left), the President of the Philippines, arrives to watch the ceremony along with daughter Sara
Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro was among dignitaries from 180 countries invited to watch the ceremony
Japan’s Emperor Naruhito departs the Imperial Palace after his enthronement ceremony
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe vowed to ‘do our utmost to create a peaceful, bright future full of hope for Japan’ on behalf of the government as he attended the ceremony
Britain’s Prince Charles visits the Nezu Museum and Gardens as part of a Royal Tour of Japan ahead of the ceremony
Britain’s Prince Charles arrives at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo amid heavy rain caused by Typhoon Hagibis, which caused a large parade which was due to mark the ascension to be delayed until next month
Mr Abe’s ultra-conservative government also granted pardons marking the occasion. The decision was published in the special edition of the official gazette, which provided for about 550,000 eligible applicants. The decision was not publicly debated.
The pre-war custom of clemency by the emperor has triggered criticism as being undemocratic and politically motivated. At the time of former emperor Akihito’s enthronement, 2.5 million people were given amnesty.
Earlier on Tuesday, the 59-year-old emperor put on a white robe and prayed at Kashikodokoro and two other shrines. The visits on Tuesday morning are to report to gods ahead of the ceremony, to be attended by 2,000 guests from in and outside Japan.
Enshrined at Kashikodokoro is the goddess Amaterasu, the mythological ancestress of Japan’s emperors.
Later, Naruhito and his wife Masako, a Harvard-educated former diplomat, will host a court banquet, to be attended by about 400 foreign dignitaries and representatives from Japan’s administrative, legislative and judicial branches and their spouses.
Although the public parade was postponed until Nov. 10, NHK public TV said there were 26,000 police providing security on Tuesday.
Naruhito is unusual among recent Japanese emperors since his only child, 17-year-old Aiko, is female and as such cannot inherit the throne under current law. Unless the law is revised, the future of the imperial family for coming generations rests instead on the shoulders of his nephew, 13-year-old Hisahito, who is second in line for the throne after his father, Crown Prince Akishino.
Japan’s Crown Princess Kiko arrives at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo ahead of Tuesday’s ascension ceremony
Minister for Defense Taro Kono, guest, Hitomi Noda and former PM of Japan Yoshihiko Noda attend the Enthronement Ceremony of Emperor Naruhito
Chief Executive of Hong Kong, Carrie Lam arrives at the Imperial Palace to attend the proclamation ceremony of Japan’s Emperor Naruhito in Tokyo
Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni arrives at the Imperial Palace ahead of the ceremony
Malaysia’s King Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah and Queen Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah arrive at the Imperial Palace to attend the enthronement ceremony
Myanmar State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was among foreign dignitaries to attend the event
Netherland’s King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima arrive at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo
U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao arrives at the Imperial Palace to attend the proclamation ceremony
China’s Vice President Wang Qishan arrives at the Imperial Palace to attend the proclamation ceremony of Emperor Naruhito
Vatican’s Cardinal Francesco Monterisi arrives at the Imperial Palace
Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen and his wife Doris Schmidauer arrive at the Imperial Palace
India’s President Ram Nath Kovind and wife Savita represent their country among dignitaries from 180 nations
Turkmenistan’s President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow arrives to attend the enthronement ceremony of Emperor Naruhito
Swedish King Carl XVI Gustaf (right) and Brunei’s Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah (second right) attend the enthronement ceremony where emperor officially proclaims his ascension to the Chrysanthemum Throne
Naruhito’s grandfather, Hirohito, in whose name Japanese troops fought World War Two, was treated as a god but renounced his divine status after Japan’s defeat in 1945. Emperors now have no political authority.
Though many Japanese welcomed the enthronement ceremony, some shrugged it off as a nuisance. There was at least one protest with about two dozen people taking part, a small objection compared to the sometimes violent protests when Akihito was enthroned.
‘There is no need for such an elaborate ceremony. Traffic has been restricted and it is causing inconvenience for ordinary people,’ said Yoshikazu Arai, 74, a retired surgeon.
‘The emperor is necessary now as a symbol of the people, but at some point, the emperor will no longer be necessary. Things will be just fine without an emperor.’
Druk Gyalpo of Bhutan Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and his wife, Jetsun Pema, arrive at the Imperial Palace to attend the enthronement ceremony
President of Pakistan, Arif Alvi and his wife Samina Alvi leave the Imperial Palace after attending the ceremony
Afghanistan’s President Ashraf Ghani and his wife Rula Ghani leave the Pine Room at Tokyo’s Imperial Palace
Attendants chant ‘Banzai’ cheer during the enthronement ceremony after Japanese Emperor Naruhito proclaimed his enthronement at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo
Despite heavy rain on the morning of the ceremony, the skies cleared as the rituals started and by the time the royal motorcade left crowds had gathered in the street
An official parade to mark the ascension has been delayed by a month due to Typhoon Higibis, but that did not stop hundreds of well-wishers gathering in the street