Emperor proclamation ceremony set for Oct. 22, 2019

March 30, 2018

Tokyo- A Japanese government committee decided Friday to hold on Oct. 22, 2019, a "Sokuirei Seiden no Gi" ceremony to proclaim Crown Prince Naruhito the Emperor after his accession to the Chrysanthemum Throne on May 1 the same year.

The timetable was released in the basic policy on a series of ceremonies related to Emperor Akihito's abdication on April 30 the same year and the Crown Prince's enthronement, adopted by the government's ceremony preparation committee.

The government will set up a ceremonies committee, to be headed by the prime minister, around autumn this year, according to the basic policy.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, who leads the preparation committee, told a press conference that the cabinet will work together as one to prepare for the ceremonies.

The basic policy, to be formalized by a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, clarified that the ceremonies "should be in line with purposes of the Japanese constitution and respect Imperial Family traditions."

It also highlighted the importance of following the basic concept and content of the enthronement ceremonies for Emperor Akihito, who came to the throne upon the demise of his father, Emperor Hirohito, in January 1989.

The government will hold a "Taiirei Seiden no Gi" abdication ceremony for Emperor Akihito on the abdication day, according to the basic policy. The ceremony will be held as an act of the Emperor in matters of state performed under the constitution.

The Emperor, now 84, will step down under one-off legislation enacted last year, which paved the way for the first succession from a living Emperor in about 200 years in Japan. Jiji Press