Emperor Akihito Performs Abdication-Related Ceremonies

April 30, 2019

Tokyo- Japanese Emperor Akihito performed on Tuesday morning a series of sacred ceremonies related to his abdication later in the day, at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo.

The ceremonies were participated by some 50 people, including Crown Prince Naruhito, Prince Akishino, his wife, Princess Kiko, and employees at the Imperial Household Agency and Imperial Palace police guards. Prince Akishino is the second son of the Emperor.

The ceremonies included the "Taiirei-Tojitsu-Kashikodokoro-Omae-no-Gi" ritual to proclaim the implementation of the "Taiirei-Seiden-no-Gi" abdication ceremony, which will be held at the palace's "Matsu-no-Ma" state room from 5 p.m. Tuesday (8 a.m. GMT).

The 85-year-old Emperor and his wife, Empress Michiko, will participate in the Taiirei-Seiden-no-Gi ceremony, the last of 11 abdication-related ceremonies that started on March 12.

His abdication will bring to an end the current Heisei era, which has lasted for about 30 years and three months.

Crown Prince Naruhito, 59, the eldest son of the Emperor, will accede to the throne at midnight Tuesday, signaling the start of the new Reiwa era.

At 10 a.m., Emperor Akihito, dressed in "korozen-no-goho," a traditional costume made exclusively for the Emperor, arrived at Kashikodokoro, one of the three Imperial Palace Sanctuaries, where the mythical Imperial ancestor Amaterasu-Omikami is enshrined.

With a serious expression on his face, he slowly walked down a corridor of the Kashikodokoro and bowed when he entered the inside of the sanctuary.

He then read out a statement saying that the Taiirei-Seiden-no-Gi ceremony will be conducted.

The Emperor performed similar rituals at the other two sanctuaries--Koreiden and Shinden. Koreiden enshrines the souls of the past Emperors and Imperial Family members, while Shinden is for various Japanese deities.

Meanwhile, Empress Michiko stayed at the palace during the ceremonies due to cervical spondylotic radiculopathy. Crown Princess Masako, who has been under medical treatment, was also absent from the ceremonies. Jiji Press