How did you see the coronation ritual?

How did you see the coronation ritual? November 1, 11:53

“The Ceremony of the Throne” on October 22
About 2,000 attendees from home and abroad watched the ritual.
This time, there was a voice saying “I realized the advent of the era of decree”, but at the time of the previous substitution, there was a fierce dispute over the consistency with the constitution. Criticism that rituals conflict with the Constitution is still deep-rooted.
So what did foreigners living in Japan see and feel? And I tried to interview again what the ritual is being asked.
(Nakahidekazu and Kinoshita Takako)

"Germany" not reviving the emperor

First, from a German person. Professor Sala Sven of Sophia University's Faculty of International Liberal Arts is from Germany and specializes in Japanese and German modern history.

Japan and Germany are both World War II defeated countries. Mr. Sven pointed out that there was a common point that both countries were able to focus on the economic recovery because they were not charged a large amount of compensation, but there were differences in approaches to politics and peace. did.

“Pre-war Japan was militarism, and the Emperor was a symbol of military roles, such as serving as a great warrior. After the war, the Emperor System would continue, and peace was being forced to change its role. The Emperor System has evolved as a symbol of

Germany on the other hand. At the end of the First World War, the monarchy collapsed as the Emperor Wilhelm II retired in the November 1918 revolution, and the Weimar Republic was born the following year. However, the minority party was raging and politics destabilized, resulting in the rise of the Nazis.

“Germany, after reflecting on the advent of Hitler and the rise of the Nazis, aimed to democratize it thoroughly after the war. The movement to revitalize the emperor was almost unthinkable. This is the difference between Japan, which has been symbiotic with the system, and Germany, which aims to leave the past. ''

And Sven analyzes the role of the current Emperor system as follows.
"Now the Emperor is visiting various countries"

“We have also sent out a good image of Japan by stating the words of reflection on the war. From the Germans' perspective, there is an impression that there is still an emperor in this era, On the other hand, the closeness and kindness of personality, such as speaking with the people kneeling, reminds us of the general Japanese, and makes them feel familiar. I will do it. "

Mr. Sven said that he would like the Emperor's thoughts on peace to be taken over by his imperial emperor.

“The Emperor has been studying abroad and the Empress is expected to be more active in the field of ex-diplomats, the connection between Japan and the world, and international friendship. I hope that the Emperor will continue to send a message about peace through his own appearance, such as seeking new forms of memorial service and memorial service. ”

"Thailand" that has long been a monarchy

On the other hand, Thailand is a country that has had a long monarchy. The current Chakri dynasty has continued for over 200 years. From the country's journalists who have “disrespectful sins,” we can hear difficult local situations in reporting.

“Japan is full of festive moods.”
Mr. Sparat Pumbert speaks enviably. I am a supermarket shop owner in Tokyo and Shinjuku that handles Asian ingredients, mainly in Thailand. I have lived in Japan for 20 years.

In Thailand, the former King Bhumibol died three years ago, and King Wachiralongkorn took the throne. Like Japan at the time of the previous substitution, it seems that the period of mourning lasted long in Thailand.

“The Thai flag is red and white on the top and bottom, with blue in the middle, and this blue color means the king. I ’m really sad and sad and it ’s hard to feel like celebrating the new king ’s throne. ``

“There are so many people celebrating in Japan, so the Emperor will surely be loved by everyone. I ’m looking forward to it.”

The Imperial Family as seen from Kimono Culture

There is a person who paid attention to the costumes worn by the Emperor and Empress.
Sheila Cliff is a professor at Tomonoji Gakuen Women's University. Cliff, who has been in Japan for over 30 years, specializes in Japanese kimono.

“Kimono has traditional dyeing methods and patterns that have been passed down since ancient times, and if you look at the fabric, you can see where it was made. Kimonos made from unique dyes born from plants that are unique to the land can be found anywhere in the world. It is the opposite of fast fashion that can be made, and it is a wonderful culture rooted in the Japanese region. "

Mr. Cliff is said to have focused on the Empress's “Twelve Singles”.

“The twelve that was completed in the Heian period is very beautiful and luxurious, but it is heavy and difficult to walk and is not practical. However, it was important for women at that time to decorate the house. There is also a theory that women had the meaning of becoming “flowers in the house.” The empress who wore the twelve was beautiful like a flower, with a majestic atmosphere between the pine trees. , Together with the clothes of the other royalty, it was like a Heian emaki and I felt the weight of Japanese tradition and history. ''

Cliff says that wearing a kimono can also serve as a cultivator of sericulture.

“When you wear a kimono, it is originally a thread and you will reach a sericulture culture. While the number of sericulture farmers is steadily decreasing, there are some researchers who talk to the last fort in the Imperial Palace where successive empresses are working on sericulture. I hope that the new empress will also have more opportunities to wear kimonos at ceremonies and overseas visits, and will also be able to play a role in the role of traditional culture. ''

Discussion over a series of rituals

Now, Mr. Sven at the beginning pointed out that, unlike Germany, which made a distinction from the past, Japan positioned the Emperor, which was a symbol of militarism, as a symbol of pacifism and coexisted with the Emperor system.

However, it was not always accepted in society.

The relationship between the emperor system and the constitution that established the principles of national sovereignty and political religion is often controversial under the reflection that the national Shinto system centered on the emperor and militarism were connected and led Japan to war. It was.

The same is true for the series of rituals that accompany the throne.
In the previous alternative, in addition to intense discussions in the Diet, guerrilla incidents by extremist groups, shooting incidents by the right wing, etc. were repeated throughout the country.

A trial was also filed last time for "constitutional ceremonial ceremonies" as a violation of the constitution.
The government finally decided to follow the precedent in conducting the ritual, as the country eventually won the case.

Was the dispute really settled?
I talked to two constitutional scholars.

“There is a constitutional problem in the ritual” Mr. Koichi Yokota

Professor Emeritus Koichi Yokota from Kyushu University. As in the Meiji period, he pointed out that this ritual, held in Shinto style, has a major problem over consistency with the constitution.

“The ceremonies related to the throne, including the ceremonial ceremonial ceremonies, are based on mythology. This violates the principle of separation of politics and politics stipulated in Article 20 of the Constitution.”

In particular, it is said that the “Tall Throne” where the Emperor was raised is a problem.

"There are theories that the Takamoji is the place where Amaterasu gods end up, and the theory that Amaterasu gods mean Takachihomine, based on the myth that grandchildren descended to Takachihomine to govern the land of Japan. However, the Goza is a place to secure the emperor's legitimacy based on mythology, while the Constitution stipulates that the emperor's status is "based on the consensus of the Japanese people with sovereignty" (Article 1). In other words, the ritual of emperor legitimacy based on myths clearly violates Article 1 of the Constitution. "

And Yokota says there is a problem with the contents of the ritual.
“The prime minister, Prime Minister Abe, spoke to the Emperor who went up to the High Throne.

“This means that the emperor is up and the people are down. That is against the principle of national sovereignty. It ’s a problem. ”

On top of that, Mr. Yokota points out that the content of the ceremonies related to the throne did not change despite the change of the Emperor's status as defined in the constitution before and after the war.

“The government followed the imperial rituals since the Meiji Era as“ it was in line with the purpose of the Constitution and respected the Imperial traditions etc. ”, but many people participated. The ritual began after the Meiji period, and we had to reconsider what tradition is, and the word “tradition” came to the fore and the scrutiny of the relationship with the constitution was not fully conducted. I think we must give priority to the Constitution rather than the Constitution. ''

“A lot of people already agree” Shuji Yagi

On the other hand, the consistency with the Constitution is well organized, and there is no problem, Prof. Shuji Yagi of Reitaku University.

Relations between politics and religious ceremonies are allowed within the scope of social common sense.
“The constitution does not deny the religion itself, but if the purpose and effect of the ritual are secular, it is acceptable to the constitution even if there is some religion” This is the idea that the Japanese judiciary and the government have taken for more than a year. The consistency between tradition and the current constitution is well organized, and I think it has led to a conclusion that many people can understand. "

It is said that there is no problem with "Tall Goza".

“It is not a religious act that the Emperor performs in the High Throne. It is only to declare that he has been throne as the Emperor. In that sense, the High Throne is the character of the stage where the throne is declared. In the previous discussion on the alternative, I think that the Emperor and the Prime Minister were able to have a flat relationship without using the High Throne. There is a voice of both about the consistency with the principle of separation of national sovereignty and political religion that the government has organized and `` combined '' there. ''

Yagi showed the idea that the ritual of succession to the throne was already established and understood by the public.

“It is the second time that the Emperor has succeeded in the present Constitution, and I think that the ritual should have been established. The traditional figure of the Emperor is shown in ceremonies such as the ceremonial ceremony of the Imperial Court. I think I was interested in the rituals that have been passed down for a long time, and I think the Japanese people have the same feelings, and the existence of the Emperor, the Emperor system itself, due to the presence of the former Emperor and the current Emperor. However, I think that there is a widespread understanding that it is welcomed very favorably by the majority of the people and is the closest to the people. ''

After the interview

While there are people who accept it favorably, I think it is also true that the Emperor System is closely related to the themes that we must continue to think about in the future, such as prewar history and consistency with the Constitution. . The ritual related to the throne continues after this. I would like to continue to think about the significance of the Emperor system and the relationship with the constitution at that timing.