Japan adopts basic policy for Imperial succession

April 3, 2018

Tokyo- The Japanese government adopted in a cabinet meeting on Tuesday a basic policy on a series of ceremonies related to Emperor Akihito's abdication and Crown Prince Naruhito's accession to the Chrysanthemum Throne.

Under the policy, the government will hold a "Taiirei Seiden no Gi" abdication ceremony on April 30, 2019, and "Sokuirei Seiden no Gi," the core ritual of "Sokui no Rei" enthronement ceremonies, on Oct. 22 the same year. In the latter, the Crown Prince will be proclaimed the Emperor.

The two ceremonies will be held as acts of the current Emperor and the new Emperor, respectively, in matters of state performed under the constitution.

The cabinet ministers gave oral consent to part of the basic policy regarding "Daijosai," an Imperial Family event in which the new Emperor prays for the well-being of the people and good harvests.

"In line with this basic policy, the cabinet will proceed with preparations in a unified manner so the Emperor's abdication and the Crown Prince's enthronement will be carried out smoothly and safely with celebration by the public," Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said in the cabinet meeting.

The basic policy, unveiled on Friday by the government's ceremony preparation committee, headed by Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, clarified that the related ceremonies "should be in line with purposes of the Japanese constitution and respect Imperial Family traditions."

A ceremonies committee, to be led by the prime minister, is scheduled to be set up around autumn this year, according to the policy.

The government plans to establish a preparatory group of related ministries and agencies this summer for the launch of the committee and a support task force to be also headed by Suga.

Emperor Akihito, 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.

All five ceremonies related to the enthronement of Crown Prince Naruhito, the 58-year-old eldest son of the Emperor, will be held as state acts.

Of them, "Kenji to Shokei no Gi," a ceremony in which the new Emperor inherits the Imperial Regalia and the State and Privy Seals, and "Sokuigo Choken no Gi," in which the Emperor meets for the first time with the heads of the administrative, judicial and legislative branches will be held on May 1, 2019.

For Daijosai, to be held as an Imperial Family event, the government plans to use public funds, in line with the ideas adopted when the era changed from Showa to Heisei in January 1989 following the death of Emperor Hirohito, posthumously known as Emperor Showa.

Emperor Hirohito died on Jan. 7, 1989, and Emperor Akihito assumed the throne within the day. The Heisei era began the following day.

The Imperial Household Agency plans to hold "Daijokyu no Gi," the main ritual of Daijosai, on Nov. 14-15, 2019. Jiji Press