Almost half a year after his proclamation as Emperor of Japan, Naruhito has taken possession of the Chrysanthemum Throne on Tuesday in a lavish ceremony with the presence of more than 70 heads of State or Government from around the world , including the Kings of Spain. The monarch, link number 126 of the oldest reigning dynasty on Earth , has reaffirmed the commitment to serve his people in an act full of symbolism that follows almost the millimeter the same liturgy of the enthronement of his predecessors, at least since the 8th century

Although since the end of World War II Japan is a constitutional monarchy in which the emperor's powers are very scarce and his role is fundamentally ceremonial, unlike what happens for example with his European counterparts he also performs functions of a religious nature such as supreme guide of Shintoism , which make him an exceptional figure very revered by the Japanese. Invested with a huge auctoritas , the Japanese sovereign, in addition to being a symbol of the unity of the nation, is a necessary hilvan of the unique heritage of the country of the rising sun. And all this has been felt in the amazing rite of enthronement of Naruhito, who prematurely became head of state for the abdication of his father, Emperor Akihito.

Since the end of last week, 2,500 guests at the enthronement ceremony have not stopped arriving in Tokyo, including delegations at the highest level of some 170 countries. Representatives of virtually all the world's ruling dynasties - from Prince Charles of England , the King of Sweden, Alberto of Monaco or Prince Haakon of Norway , to the kings of Bhutan, Malaysia, Swaziland, Cambodia or Tonga, the emir of Qatar or the almighty heir of Saudi Arabia, Prince Salman - have gathered at what is already one of the most important royal events of the century. And, next to them, are the leaders of countless nations on five continents, including the president of Brazil, Jair Bolsonaro , the one of India, Ram Nath Kovind , the president of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas , the chief of the European Diplomacy, Federica Mogherini or the United States Secretary of Transportation, Elaine Chao . It has surprised the low level of representation sent by Washington considering that Tokyo is its main ally in the Pacific. A blunder more by President Trump , who does not stand out precisely for his diplomatic skills. On the other hand, the expenses in honor of Naruhito have served so that neighboring nations of Japan that maintain historical contentious rather than delicate have had a gesture of approach. Thus, China has sent Vice President Wang Qishan to Tokyo, and President Duterte himself has come from the Philippines.

Deferred the tour of the emperors by the typhoon

Although this Tuesday is a historic day in Japan, full of pomp, the celebrations have been somewhat overshadowed by the recent disaster caused by the super typhoon Hagibis , which caused serious damage on the 12th in the east of the Japanese archipelago and left at least 79 dead . Therefore, the Imperial House and the Government of Abe finally decided to cancel the tour by convertible car that Emperor Naruhito and his wife, Empress Masako, were going to make today, between the Imperial Palace and the Togu Palace - where they continue to reside while they finish the conditioning works in the first - also in Tokyo, to greet citizens who would like to discourage a prosperous reign to the monarch. This act has been postponed to November 10.

The enthronement rite has taken place in the Hall of Pines , the most exalted of the rooms of the Imperial Palace. Naruhito has appeared before his guests dressed in his sokutai , traditional clothing of the maximum label that the emperor only wears in this ceremony. Empress Masako and the rest of the members of the imperial family have also presented themselves with traditional clothing of enormous symbolism.

The monarch has ascended to takamikura , the imperial throne that retains the same form as those used by its predecessors since the ninth century, and which are known for the preserved paintings of the Heian period (794-1185). The current takamikura, restored in recent months, was built in 1915 for the proclamation of Emperor Taisho . It has a height of 6.5 meters and the whole set weighs more than eight tons . Masako has taken his place on an adjacent canopy throne, somewhat smaller.

After Naruhito's speech, scrupulously following the tradition, the Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, who congratulated the new monarch and asked all attendees to sing the triple banzai (literally 10,000 years ), which is the Ritual formula to desire prosperity and a happy reign to the sovereign.

All the presidents present at the enthronement also participate this Tuesday in a state lunch in honor of Naruhito . And the celebrations will continue on Wednesday, when the emperors offer a tea in their official residence to members of world royalty displaced to Tokyo as a sign of thanks. In addition, that same day the prime minister will offer another gala dinner to the leaders present in the country. The Kings of Spain, Don Felipe and Doña Letizia , will only participate in the ceremonies on Tuesday, since on October 23 they move to South Korea to start a two-day state trip . A visit announced in 2016 will materialize and that, then, ended up being suspended due to the situation of political interinity in Spain. Things have changed a lot and now, despite the fact that the Government is still in operation, state trips like this are done. Incomprehensibly, Exteriors has organized it for Wednesday and Thursday, instead of trying to schedule its start a day later, so that the Spanish Monarchs could have participated in the full events program in Japan on the occasion of the enthronement of Naruhito.

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