Japan to pardon 550,000 convicts on occasion of imperial enthronement ceremony
The government on Friday approved granting pardons to roughly 550,000 petty criminals in light of Emperor Naruhito's enthronement ceremony next Tuesday. The Justice Ministry said the pardons, the first since 1993, will be granted on the premise that the emperor's enthronement is "an opportunity for ...
Ceremony held to kick off construction of halls for Daijosai imperial succession rite
A ceremony was held Friday on the Imperial Palace grounds to mark the start of construction of the temporary halls to be used in a key imperial succession rite this fall. Emperor Naruhito, who acceded the throne on May 1, must take part in a ...
Emperor's succession rite to follow precedent despite constitutional controversy
The government approved Thursday the outline of a ritual to be held this fall to proclaim the enthronement of Emperor Naruhito before international guests, following the style adopted by his father in 1990, despite a controversy surrounding the nature of the rite. In the Sokuirei ...
Turtle-shell divination conducted at Imperial Palace in Tokyo ahead of key succession rite
The ceremony selects Tochigi and Kyoto prefectures to provide the rice for the upcoming Daijosai offering ceremony in mid-November.
Reiwa calligraphy to be stored at National Archives, made available for commercial use
The government plans to preserve the original calligraphic work Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga displayed when announcing the new era name of Reiwa at the National Archives of Japan, according to government sources. The archived material will be made public from the spring of 2021. ...
In first palace ritual of his reign, Japan's emperor reports enthronement plans to his ancestors
Emperor Naruhito performed his first formal ritual within the Imperial Palace on Wednesday following his ascension to the Chrysanthemum Throne last week, ceremonially reporting to his ancestors that he will take part in major enthronement rites this fall. The emperor read out a statement at ...
Back to the grind: Workers in Japan return after extended Golden Week holiday
The nation went back to work following this year's unprecedented 10-day Golden Week holiday on Tuesday — the first working day of the Reiwa Era. Naoto Tokunaga, 24, showed up at his office near Tokyo Station 30 minutes earlier than usual because he was impatient ...
Drone flights reported again near Imperial Palace in Tokyo in wake of ascension
Riot police observed what they thought was a drone flying over the Kitanomaru Garden located just north of the palace at around 7:30 p.m. Monday.
Nagano mountain hut owner hopes emperor will not give up passion for trekking
The owner of a hut on the Yatsugatake mountain range hopes newly enthroned Emperor Naruhito will not give up his passion for trekking. The 59-year-old emperor, who ascended the throne Wednesday, is known to be very fond of outdoor activities including skiing and jogging, but ...
Future role of Japan's imperial women in spotlight as family numbers decline
The ascension of Emperor Naruhito has raised questions about how public duties should be shouldered in an ever-shrinking household.
140,000 people greet Japan's Emperor Naruhito as he makes first public appearance since accession
Emperor Naruhito expressed his hopes for progress toward world peace on Saturday at the Imperial Palace, where tens of thousands of people gathered to witness his first public greeting since ascending to the throne on May 1. "I am deeply blessed and grateful for everyone ...
Tokyo police investigating drone flights near imperial residences a day after emperor's accession
The unmanned aircraft were seen Thursday night near the Imperial Palace, the Akasaka Estate — the current home of Emperor Naruhito — and the Musashino Imperial Graveyard in Hachioji.
