Naruhito officially assumed his duties as emperor on May 1, the day after his father had abdicated. It was the first time in 200 years that a Japanese monarch has departed.

The coronation day began with Naruhito, wearing a voluminous white badge and a black hat with a 60 centimeter high "mast", proclaimed the coronation for deities and ancestors at various holy places.

Invited guests from over 180 countries - including Sweden's King and Crown Princess - attended the day, culminating in a ceremony in the Emperor's Palace.

Scaled-down festivities

When the coronation was completed, and Naruto thus completed his path to the Chrysanthemum throne, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe shouted "Banzai!" - long lived the Emperor - three times.

Today's festivities have been scaled down somewhat in the aftermath of typhoon Hagibi's advancement across the country a little more than a week ago. The weather demanded over 80 lives and many people are still looking for lost relatives. Among other things, a car pair to present the new Emperor pair to the public has been postponed.