Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress Queen Elizabeth Funeral Parade-The Bond between the Imperial Family and the British Royal Family-September 22, 20:41
Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress of Japan attended the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II on the 19th of this month.
It is unusual for the emperor to attend a funeral on his first overseas visit after his accession to the throne.
Behind their majesties' attendance is the deep bond between Queen Elizabeth and the three emperors, which has overcome the history of enemy nations during World War II.
(Reporter Kanami Hashimoto)
The reason for the unusual funeral attendance
Royal families and heads of state from around the world gathered at Westminster Abbey to attend the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II on the 19th of this month.
Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress attended from Japan, and they regretted their final farewell to Queen Elizabeth.
It is unusual for the emperor to attend the funerals of foreign royal families and heads of state, according to the Imperial Household Agency. This is the second time that the retired emperor and his wife attended.
Regarding the reason for this, Chief Cabinet Secretary Matsuno said on the 14th of this month, ``The British royal family and the Japanese imperial family have had a close relationship for a long time. I have been interacting with His Majesty for three generations."
69 years ago at the coronation of the Queen
Post-war exchanges with the British royal family began in 1953 with the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in London.
The retired emperor, who was her crown prince, was 19 years old at the time.
He attended the ceremony on behalf of Emperor Showa.
At the time, just eight years after the end of World War II, there were severe public sentiments against Japan in Britain, and the Emperor's visit to some cities was canceled.
However, the Queen, who was 27 at the time, welcomed her emperor warmly, including watching a horse race with her.
According to her close associates, her Emperor Emeritus was deeply grateful for her Queen's warm consideration on this occasion, and she is still remembered from time to time.
This visit also became the starting point of international goodwill for His Majesty the Emperor Emeritus.
In 1971, Emperor Showa visited England with Empress Kojun.
For Emperor Showa, this was the first visit to England in 50 years since he was Crown Prince in 1921, and the series of overseas visits by an emperor was the first in history.
The visit by the emperor of a former enemy country that fought in World War II sparked protests in Britain.
During his visit, a cedar tree that Emperor Showa had planted at the Royal Botanical Gardens was cut down the next day.
While Queen Elizabeth warmly welcomed Emperor Showa, at a dinner party inviting Emperor Showa, she touched on the war as follows.
"We cannot pretend that the past never existed. We cannot say that the civil relations between our two countries were always peaceful and friendly. But because of this experience, we must never let the same thing happen again. It is something that solidifies my determination.”
According to Professor Naotaka Kimizuka of Kanto Gakuin University, the visit will revive the "Garter Medal", Britain's highest honor, which was awarded to Emperor Showa before the war and was stripped after the outbreak of war with Britain.
The visit marked a genuine restoration of relations between the Imperial Family and the British Crown.
The Queen's first visit to Japan is welcomed by all of Japan
Four years later, in 1975, Queen Elizabeth II became the first British monarch to visit Japan with her husband, Prince Philip.
At a banquet at the Imperial Palace, Queen Elizabeth said, ``Our visit to Japan will be a symbol of the long exchanges between our two countries. I hope and believe that
During this visit, the Retired Emperor and Empress, then Crown Prince and Princess, invited the Queen to visit the Crown Prince's Palace, where she resides in the Akasaka Imperial Estate, and take a stroll through the gardens with her.
The Queen also held a parade in a convertible in Tokyo, visited Kyoto and Ise Jingu Shrine in Mie Prefecture, and met many Japanese people, creating a welcoming mood throughout Japan. I was.
“Deep heartache” in wounds of war
Exchanges with the British royal family, which seek to overcome the history of war and conflict, continue into the Heisei era.
In 1998, Emperor Akihito and Empress Emerita visited England for the first time since their accession to the throne.
Even at the time, 50 years after the end of the war, there were voices of opposition in Britain from former soldiers who had been taken prisoner by the former Japanese army in the previous war.
At a banquet held at Buckingham Palace, Emperor Akihito touched on war again.
“When I think of the wounds people suffered from the war, I feel a deep pain in my heart. He sincerely hopes that such a history will never be recorded again, and despite suffering in the past, he has made immeasurable efforts and devoted himself to the future friendship between the two countries. I would like to express my deepest respect and gratitude to the people."
Former Supreme Court Justice Keiichi Hayashi, who was then Counselor of the Japanese Embassy in the United Kingdom and later served as Ambassador to the United Kingdom for five and a half years, recalls:
Keiichi Hayashi, Former Ambassador to the United Kingdom:
“At the time of the visit, there were protests by former POWs, and there was more than just a welcoming mood. In addition, the Emperor and Empress emperor and emperor emperor and emperor attended each event with sincerity and were devoted to friendship and goodwill. I think that there was something in that figure that even the British could sense.Through my visit, I felt like I was turning a page to the future.”
Congratulation and gratitude, a break in the past history
The closeness between the Emperor and Empress and Queen Elizabeth, who continued to keep in touch even after that, was demonstrated at an event to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Queen's accession to the throne in 2012.
The Emperor had just undergone heart bypass surgery about three months earlier, and was not in perfect physical condition.
However, the emperor strongly requested a visit.
The luncheon celebrating the 60th anniversary of the accession to the throne was attended by royal families from nearly 30 countries in Europe and the Middle East. There were only two Belgian kings.
The Emperor was given a seat next to Queen Elizabeth, and spent over an hour chatting intimately with her, renewing her old friendship.
During this visit, the Emperor and Empress also expressed a strong desire to personally thank the British people for their assistance to Japan following the Great East Japan Earthquake the previous year.
The couple invited over 100 people to the Japanese Embassy and expressed their gratitude in English.
Mr. Hayashi, who welcomed the Emperor and Empress as ambassador to the United Kingdom at the time, recalls that this visit marked a milestone in the history of the past and conveyed his congratulations and gratitude.
Former Ambassador to the United Kingdom Keiichi Hayashi:
"Considering the coronation ceremony 60 years ago and the events that followed, the Emperor expressed his congratulations on this visit with a clear and sunny feeling, and offered support for the Great East Japan Earthquake. I believe that the long-lasting exchanges between the Japanese and British royal families have contributed to the stability of the relationship between the two countries to this day.”
a day spent like family
The relationship with Queen Elizabeth has been passed down to the next generation, the Emperor.
His Majesty the Emperor studied abroad at the University of Oxford in England for two years from 1983, when he was in graduate school.
In his book "With the Thames", which describes his experiences while studying abroad, he writes about the time when Queen Elizabeth invited him to Buckingham Palace for tea.
"Her Majesty the Queen asked about her future life in the UK and talked about her visit to Japan, Prince Andrew talked about military life, and Prince Edward talked about student life. Of course, I was a little nervous. Also, I was wondering what "tea" is in the UK, so I learned how Her Majesty the Queen personally brews tea, and the sandwiches and cakes that accompany the tea. I was intrigued by the combination of
In addition, when she was invited by Queen Elizabeth and her husband, Prince Philip, to stay at Balmoral Castle in Scotland, he enjoyed a barbecue with the Queen and her family and was like a member of the family.
Since then, His Majesty the Emperor has made three official visits to England.
During my visit in 2001, at Windsor Castle, Queen Elizabeth showed me around the library in the castle, and we had dinner together, deepening our friendship.
Two years ago, His Majesties were scheduled to visit England as their first overseas visit after the accession to the throne.
I had an invitation from Queen Elizabeth.
However, it was postponed due to the global spread of the new coronavirus.
The Queen's Thoughts to the Next Generation
Following the death of Queen Elizabeth, His Majesty the Emperor expressed his feelings in a letter.
"I would like to express my deepest sorrow and heartfelt condolences. Regarding the relationship between Japan and Japan, Her Majesty the Queen has always warmly watched over the relationship between our two countries. I would like to express my deepest gratitude for the warm hospitality you have given me on various occasions and for the many considerations you have given me.”
On the eve of Queen Elizabeth's state funeral (18th), His Majesty the Emperor visited Westminster Hall in London and quietly said goodbye in front of the Queen's coffin, thanking her for her warm consideration. It means that
At her state funeral on the 19th, she attended with her Empress and offered prayers of gratitude and condolences to the Queen, who has deepened ties with the Japanese Imperial Family over the past 70 years.
Professor Naotaka Kimizuka of Kanto Gakuin University, who specializes in British political and diplomatic history and is familiar with the British royal family, says that Queen Elizabeth played a major role in deepening relations with Japan after the war.
Professor Naotaka Kimizuka, Kanto Gakuin University
“The continuous exchanges between the Imperial Family and the British Royal Family came to an end when World War II turned them into hostile nations. He also cared about post-war reconciliation, such as the coronation of Emperor Akihito, the visit of Emperor Hirohito to England, and the Queen's visit to Japan as the first British monarch to do so. Since we restarted, I think it's fair to say that the Queen is a benefactor."
The visit by Their Majesties is said to be of great significance for the future history of exchanges between the Imperial Family and the British Royal Family.
Kanto Gakuin University Professor Naotaka Kimizuka
“The new King Charles visited Japan for the first time at the 1970 Osaka World Exposition, and recently he has visited Japan frequently, such as attending the enthronement ceremony of His Majesty the Emperor. The fact that Their Majesties attended the state funeral and that His Majesty the Emperor directly conveyed his condolences to the King can be highly evaluated for future exchanges. I want it to be built.”
After Their Majesties returned to Japan, one of their aides said, "I couldn't make it to Queen Elizabeth's invitation to visit, but Their Majesties have always been grateful for that feeling. You have visited England. I believe that you were able to bid farewell to the Queen with all your heart."
After the war, the bond between the Imperial family and the British royal family, which was nurtured under Queen Elizabeth II, will be passed down to the next generation.
I would like to take a look at the progress of the future.
Reporter
Kanami Hashimoto Joined the Bureau
in 2010
After working in national tax and judicial affairs, currently in charge of the Imperial Household Agency