Fourteen Kings, Eight Queens and Seven Heirs were among the Royal Guests at the magnificent Enthronement Celebrations of Emperor Naruhito of Japan at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on this day in 2019, five years ago. Emperor Naruhito acceded to the Chrysanthemum Thone that May after the abdication of Emperor Akihito.
On the morning of October 22nd, Emperor Naruhito of Japan performed a ritual reporting his ascension to the throne in front of the Kashiko-dokoro, in one of the Imperial Palace’s three sanctuaries, which houses the sun goddess Amaterasu, the legendary ancestor of the imperial line. Wearing traditional white sokutai robes, the Emperor bowed and read aloud a statement at the shrine, while Empress Masako, dressed in many-layered jūnihitoe robes, made obeisance, followed by other members of the imperial family, as well as Prime Minister Abe Shinzō and other representatives of the different branches of government in the garden in front of the shrine.
In the afternoon, Emperor Naruhito, in full imperial robes, arrived in the Seiden-Matsu-no-Ma of the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, to take his seat on the Takamikura Imperial Throne, followed by Empress Masako, also in full imperial robes, who ascended to the Michodai, the August Seat of the Empress, while the Sacred Objects, the sword, Kusanagi, and the jewel, Yasakani no Magatami, and State and Privy Seals were laid on a table. The Emperor read out a statement declaring his accession to the throne, followed by a speech by the Prime Minister and three cheers, followed by the Emperor and Empress’ exit, which marked the completion of the 30-minute ceremony.
The extended Imperial Family, Royal Guests and Dignitaries observed the Ceremony from across the courtyard of the Imperial Palace but did not interact with the Emperor and Empress.
King Carl XVI Gustaf (wearing the Order of the Chrysanthemum) and Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden (in the Order of the Chrysanthemum)
Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei and Prince Mateen of Brunei
King Mswati III and Queen LaMashwama of Eswatini
King Letsie III and Queen ‘Masenate Mohato Seeiso of Lesotho
Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg (wearing the Order of the Chrysanthemum)
King Norodom Sihamoni of Cambodia
Prince Albert II of Monaco
King Jigme and Queen Jetsun Pema of Bhutan
King Tupou VI and Queen Nanasipauʻu Tukuʻaho of Tonga
King Willem-Alexander (wearing the Order of the Chrysanthemum) and Queen Máxima of the Netherlands (in the Dutch Diamond Trellis Necklace, House Diamond Earrings, and the Order of the Precious Crown)
King Philippe (wearing the Order of the Chrysanthemum) and Queen Mathilde of Belgium (in the Order of the Precious Crown)
Emir of Qatar
King Felipe VI (wearing the Order of the Chrysanthemum) and Queen Letizia of Spain (in Queen Victoria Eugenie’s Diamond Rivière, Queen Sofia’s Emerald Earrings and the Order of the Precious Crown)
King Abdullah and Queen Azizah of Malaysia
The Prince of Wales (wearing the Order of the Chrysanthemum)
Crown Prince Frederik (wearing the Order of the Chrysanthemum) and Crown Princess Mary of Denmark (in the Danish Ruby Parure)
Crown Prince Haakon of Norway (wearing the Order of the Chrysanthemum)
Hereditary Prince Alois of Liechtenstein
Crown Prince Hussein of Jordan
Crown Prince Salman of Bahrain
Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammad of Kuwait
In the evening, Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako hosted a Banquet to celebrate their Enthronement at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo. The Imperial Couple received their guests in the Seiden-Take-no-Ma (Audience Room).
The Royal Guests and Heads of State were shown the Imperial Throne for the Emperor and August Seat of the Empress in the Seiden-Matsu-no-Ma (State Room), followed by drinks in the Shunju-no-Ma (Grand Hall), which included entertainment by bugaku, traditional Japanese court music and dancing.
Then, the Emperor and Empress led their guests to the Homei-Den (State Banquet Hall) for the Banquet, followed by after-dinner drinks in the Shunju-no-Ma (Grand Hall). Later, the Imperial Couple and their guests moved on to the Matsukaze-no-Ma (Drawing Room), where the Emperor and Empress bid farewell to their guests before exiting the room.
Emperor Naruhito wore the Order of the Chrysanthemum while Empress Masako wore the Meiji Scroll Tiara and the Order of the Chrysanthemum.
King Carl XVI Gustaf (in the Order of the Chrysanthemum) and Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden (wearing the Laurel Wreath Tiara and the Order of the Chrysanthemum)
Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei and Prince Mateen of Brunei
King Mswati III and Queen LaMashwama of Eswatini
King Letsie III and Queen ‘Masenate Mohato Seeiso of Lesotho
Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg (wearing the Order of the Chrysanthemum)
Prince Albert II of Monaco
King Jigme and Queen Jetsun Pema of Bhutan (wearing the Bhutanese Turquoise Bandeau Tiara)
King Tupou VI and Queen Nanasipauʻu Tukuʻaho of Tonga
King Willem-Alexander (wearing the Order of the Chrysanthemum) and Queen Máxima of the Netherlands (in the Mellerio Ruby Tiara and Parure and the Order of the Precious Crown)
King Philippe (wearing the Order of the Chrysanthemum) and Queen Mathilde of Belgium (in the Nine Provinces Tiara and the Order of the Precious Crown)
Emir of Qatar
King Felipe VI (wearing the Order of the Chrysanthemum) and Queen Letizia of Spain (in the Spanish Fleur-de-Lys Tiara, Diamond Earrings, and Diamond Bracelets and the Order of the Precious Crown)
King Abdullah and Queen Azizah of Malaysia (in the Gandik Diraja Tiara)
The Prince of Wales (wearing the Order of the Chrysanthemum)
Crown Princess Kiko of Japan (wearing the Diamond Scroll Tiara)
Crown Prince Frederik (wearing the Order of the Chrysanthemum) and Crown Princess Mary of Denmark (in her Diamond Necklace Tiara)
Crown Prince Haakon of Norway (wearing the Order of the Chrysanthemum)
Hereditary Prince Alois of Liechtenstein
Crown Prince Hussein of Jordan
Prince Moulay Rachid of Morocco
Prince Turki bin Mohamed of Saudi Arabia
On the afternoon of October 23rd, Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako hosted a tea party for their Foreign Royal Guests at the Akasaka Imperial Palace, which was attended by members of the Imperial Family, including Emperor Emeritus Akihito and Empress Emerita Michiko.
Finally, that evening, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe hosted a Dinner for Foreign Representatives at the Hotel New Otani in Tokyo. Following cocktails in the Fuyo banquet room, guests viewed cultural performances: a “Sanba-so” Kyogen, Kabuki & Bunraku performance and a “Shakkyo” Noh performance in the Tsuru banquet room, which were followed by the Dinner, that included a speech and toast by the Prime Minister.
