Japanese Enthronement Celebrations: April - October 2019


If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.
European royalty confirmed in Emperor Naruhito's enthronement:

Spain: King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia

Netherlands: King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima

Belgium: King Philippe and Queen Mathilde

Denmark: Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary

Sweden: King Carl XVI Gustaf and Crown Princess Victoria

Norway: Crown Prince Haakon

Luxembourg: Grand Duke Henri

Monaco and Liechtenstein have not yet confirmed their presence in enthronement.
 
Japan pushes back new emperor's enthronement parade to Nov. 10 - Kyodo News

The Japanese government has decided to postpone Emperor Naruhito's enthronement parade until Nov. 10 in consideration of the hardships people are suffering in the wake of last weekend's deadly typhoon. The postponement was approved by the Cabinet on Friday.

[...]

With rescue and relief efforts involving police, firefighters and the Self-Defense Forces under way, the government apparently judged that the parade, to be held under tight security, should be put off.

[...]

I think the government made the right call, not only on practical grounds but as an expression of the Emperor's sympathy for the victims and survivors.

But I also understand the decision not to postpone the ceremony and banquet; the logistical issues in rescheduling visitors from virtually every country in the world must be a nightmare.
 
On October 18th, the Imperial family attended another rehearsal for the enthronement ceremony. Emperor Naruhito, Empress Masako, Crown Prince Akishino, Crown Princess Kiko, Princess Mako, and Princess Kako were seen entering the Imperial Palace around 2:30pm.

Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako also greeted Emperor Emeritus Akihito and Empress Emerita Michiko at Fukiage Sento Imperial Palace ahead of the enthronement.

It's been decided Emperor Emeritus Akihito and Empress Emerita Michiko will attend the tea party with foreign royalty hosted by Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako at Akasaka Imperial Palace on October 23.

Sources: news24.jp, Sankei

https://www.sankei.com/images/news/191018/lif1910180042-p1.jpg
https://www.jiji.com/news/photos/photo_news/images/658/0032908700.jpg

Blurry screenshots of Akishino and Mikasa family from fnn.jp, JNN via Yahoo!

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EHNihVuUcAA_3ko.png
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EHNihV0UwAAd6pq.png
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EHNihV0UYAAqpS5.png
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EHNihV0VUAA9gj9.png
 
Last edited:
Cabinet's enthronement gift unveiled | NHK WORLD-JAPAN News
[...] The sculpture was made by the head of the Cultural Affairs Agency.

Agency chief and metalwork artist Ryohei Miyata handed the sculpture to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Friday.

Titled "Springen," meaning "to jump" in German, the 45-centimeter-high artwork depicts dolphins swimming dynamically amid soaring ocean waves.

Miyata said dolphins are his lifelong motif. He said he wanted to create an art object that conveys a message of peace and hope, as the nation makes a fresh start in the new Reiwa era.

[...]
https://cdn.mainichi.jp/vol1/2019/10/18/20191018k0000m010145000p/9.jpg
https://www.asahicom.jp/articles/images/AS20191018003259_comm.jpg
https://www.asahicom.jp/articles/images/AS20191018003262_comm.jpg

Each of the 2,000 guests at the enthronement will receive photos of Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako, a photo album of the Imperial family/succession, and a map of Tokyo. The Imperial couple have already taken official photos in traditional clothing.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EHN5MmpUYAYlBc1.jpg
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EHN5MmrUEAEkehU.jpg
On October 19th, the IHA allowed media to view enthronement preparations.
 
Last edited:
The Royal Couple of Netherland with the government plane PH-GOV landed this morning at Fukuoka Airport in Japan. The Kings flew for Japan after their visit in India

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EHOEwuTXUAAcmYz?format=jpg&name=medium
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EHOEwuNXUAAAMbG?format=jpg&name=medium

Does that mean they already stay in Japan for the enthronement and won´t return to the N.lands before?
If so, they must be spending some private time, perhaps with the emperor and empress, in Japan.
 
Really nice gift

I don´t want to be potitical or offensive, but I find this gift very "interesting" in a nation that´s, how do I put it, treats dolphins and whales not really nice and respectful...:whistling:
 
Last edited:
I like parts of the cabinet's enthronement gift very much, but the overall effect is rather rigid, so while there may be an intent to embody peace and hope, I think the strongest impression is of "order." An interesting psychological blip, the difference between what was intended and what the end result was.

It would be interesting to know what Maxima and WA will be doing before the enthronement. I wouldn't be surprised if there was a t least some private time with the Emperor and Empress--on the other hand, Naruhito and Masako can't possibly have much free time so close to the enthronement, so perhaps not?
 
What are the enthronement times? And where can you see live?
 
The Royal Couple of Netherland with the government plane PH-GOV landed this morning at Fukuoka Airport in Japan. The Kings flew for Japan after their visit in India

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EHOEwuTXUAAcmYz?format=jpg&name=medium
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EHOEwuNXUAAAMbG?format=jpg&name=medium

The plane is befitting the King and Queen, complete with porcelain and crystalware aboard, but I dislike the grey, white, blue and red livery. I do not understand the idea behind it, unless is the standard livery for all the new State's VIP airplanes (there are two more of this type 737 Business Jet in the pipeline to replace the Fokker 100 and the three Gulfstreams) flying the Cabinet and the top of the armed forces

The King and Queen are privately befriended with the imperial couple. I think they will have some private encounters indeed.
 
Last edited:
a very busy agenda for WA and maxima who are travelling to japan following their state visit to india; similarly so for felipe and letizia who hosted the princess of asturias awards in spain, and are now off to japan and will go to south korea on state visit directly afterwards. at exciting as it may be, being a royal does sound exhausting. :)

WA and maxima are good friends with the emperor and empress - i am certain that TIH will welcome them for a short get together, as any friend would, despite them being surely extremely busy due to the celebrations of the enthronement.

i am less sure as to what they will do with other royal guests with whom they may not have such a close relationship.
 
It would be interesting to know what Maxima and WA will be doing before the enthronement. I wouldn't be surprised if there was a t least some private time with the Emperor and Empress--on the other hand, Naruhito and Masako can't possibly have much free time so close to the enthronement, so perhaps not?

I wouldn't be surprised if the princesses are with them in Japan. It's fall break this week. So, they could have left Friday night and arrived on Saturday night and meet their parents in Japan; and spend the week exploring the country - and probably spending some time with (Naruhito, Masako and) Aiko - with Willem-Alexander and Máxima attending the inauguration ceremony on Tuesday. If they return next weekend, they'll be back in time for school.
 
The plane is befitting the King and Queen, complete with porcelain and crystalware aboard, but I dislike the grey, white, blue and red livery. I do not understand the idea behind it, unless is the standard livery for all the new State's VIP airplanes (there are two more of this type 737 Business Jet in the pipeline to replace the Fokker 100 and the three Gulfstreams) flying the Cabinet and the top of the armed forces

The King and Queen are privately befriended with the imperial couple. I think they will have some private encounters indeed.
I wonder whether the King is at the controls for the landing:whistling:
 
Pomp and Pageantry: Emperor Naruhito's Enthronement Ceremony | Nippon.com (an excellent article about the events)

What are the enthronement times? And where can you see live?
October 22 at 1pm (JST)

NHK Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nhkworld/

Japan's Government Internet TV links

English main page: https://nettv.gov-online.go.jp/eng/index.html
English Imperial section: https://nettv.gov-online.go.jp/eng/category_index.html?t=7
Japanese main page: https://nettv.gov-online.go.jp/index.html
Japanese's Imperial section: https://nettv.gov-online.go.jp/category_index.html?t=101

I'm also checking the Prime Minister's English and Japanese twitter and YouTube. The PM or his team tweeted live streaming info for the abdication and succession ceremonies in April/May.

https://twitter.com/JPN_PMO

https://twitter.com/kantei

https://www.youtube.com/user/kanteijp

TV Tokyo already setup a YouTube live stream link for the enthronement but I don't know if it's accessible for all countries. It's not available to US right now but maybe TV Tokyo will allow tomorrow? I've seen some of their regular videos become available for US later.
ETA: Bad weather may force changes to emperor's enthronement ceremony - Kyodo News
[....]

The emperor will declare his enthronement in the "Sokuirei Seiden no gi" -- an ancient ceremony equivalent to a coronation -- from an elevated dais within the Imperial Palace in Tokyo before some 2,000 guests in adjoining hallways. Under the current plan, ceremonial officials carrying swords and bows, together with drum and gong players, will line up outside in the courtyard, which is to be decorated with colorful flags and spears.

But the officials may have to move inside to the hallways while the flags, of varying sizes, may be removed altogether if the weather is bad. A high chance of rain has been forecast for Tokyo on Tuesday.

[...]

The clothing to be donned by the ceremonial officials and the objects they hold are vulnerable to rain, while the flags may fly away in strong winds. The agency is therefore considering reducing the number of officials and moving them indoors.

[...]
ETA: The Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad, departed yesterday for Emperor Naruhito's enthronement.


ETA: Malaysia's King and Queen will attend Emperor Naruhito's enthronement.

King, Queen to witness enthronement of Japan's new emperor | The Star Online
The Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah is among the heads of states and dignitaries from around the world expected to attend the enthronement ceremony of Emperor Naruhito, at the Imperial Palace here on Tuesday (Oct 22).

His Majesty and Raja Permaisuri Agong Tunku Hajah Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah, are expected to arrive here in a special aircraft on Monday (Oct 21) evening, accompanied by officials from the Prime Minister's Office and the Foreign Ministry.

[...]
 
Last edited:
I wonder whether the King is at the controls for the landing:whistling:

Very off topic but I’m not sure why you find this idea so ridiculous-he was an actual airline pilot as we found out after the fact.

I am looking foward to seeing everyone at the upcoming events. Not too much longer.
 
Mary and Frederik are scheduled to stay in Japan for three days or so.
If they haven't already touched down, they will arrive sometime today.
 

despite the long flight, letizia (and felipe) both look fresh as a lettuce. i would have thought she'd change clothes to land, but it looks as though she decided against it. i wonder if they have an extra set of 'indoor clothes' for them to travel more comfortably and so that their 'nice' clothes don't get creased whilst they travel and still look great when they land.
 
Will there be any LIVE coverage of the enthronement? If so, what are the links?
 
Additional live stream info

NHK will live stream on Facebook and Twitter. (They'll probably preempt their regular programming on the NHK website like they did for abdication/succession ceremonies.)

NHK coverage starts at 8:55am and 12:40pm (JST). The morning ritual is private so maybe it's just Imperial family arriving/leaving the Imperial Palace.

https://www.facebook.com/nhkworld/

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/liveblog/2/


The Prime Minister's YouTube channel will live stream at 1pm:

https://www.youtube.com/user/kanteijp


ETA: Japan's Government Internet TV coverage starts at 12:50pm

Japanese link: https://dwl3.gov-online.go.jp/video/cao/dl/public_html/gov/sp/gosokui/live.html

English link: https://dwl3.gov-online.go.jp/video/cao/dl/public_html/gov/sp/gosokui/en/live.html
 
Last edited:
Has a full guest list been published? I haven't seen anything about Brunei, Morocco, Thailand, etc.
 
Back
Top Bottom