Japan to Hold Key Event for Prince Akishino in April 2020

October 11, 2018

Tokyo- Japan plans to hold in April 2020 the "Rikkoshi no Rei" ceremony to proclaim Prince Akishino as first in line to the Chrysanthemum Throne following the Imperial succession in 2019, government sources said Wednesday.

As early as Friday, the government will launch a committee led by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on ceremonies related to the abdication of Emperor Akihito and the enthronement of Crown Prince Naruhito to start full discussions to outline the events including the schedule for Rikkoshi no Rei for the younger brother of the Crown Prince.

The basic policy adopted by the government in April this year said the abdication ceremony will take place on April 30, 2019 and the enthronement-related events from May 1 to autumn the same year.

Under the policy, Rikkoshi no Rei is scheduled to take place a year after the Imperial succession, but no date for the event was mentioned.

The Imperial Family is busy with many events in January, and the Crown Prince reaches his birthday in February. In 2020, the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics are slated for summer.

Given these, the government is considering holding the proclamation event for Prince Akishino in April 2020, the sources said.

In the previous Imperial succession, a ceremony called "Rittaishi no Rei" was held in February 1991, two years after the succession, to proclaim Crown Prince Naruhito as first in line to the throne.

The government will examine the ceremony to finalize details of Rikkoshi no Rei. Jiji Press