is an ancient ceremony that marks the accession of a new emperor to the Chrysanthemum Throne. The Three Sacred treasures are given to the new sovereign during the course of the rite. It is the most important out of the Japanese Imperial Rituals. The most recent enthronement was that of Emperor Naruhito on 22 October 2019.
Enthronement ceremonies The enthronement ceremony consist of five sub-ceremonies, which are conducted as constitutional functions (国事行為) based on Article 3 of the Constitution of Japan as follows:
Presentation of the Three Sacred Treasures The takes place immediately after the death or abdication of the previous sovereign. The successor is formally presented with boxes containing two of the three items that compose the Imperial Regalia of Japan:
A replica sword representing the sword , with the original allegedly enshrined and kept at Atsuta Shrine in Nagoya; The , a necklace of comma-shaped stone beads; The mirror , which is enshrined in the Ise Grand Shrine as the , or the embodiment of the Sun goddess herself. It is the most significant item out of the imperial regalia and is permanently housed in the shrine, and is not presented to the emperor for the enthronement ceremony. Imperial messengers and priests are sent to this shrine, as well as to the tomb-shrines of the four emperors whose reigns immediately preceded the new monarch, to inform them of the new emperor's accession.
The three items of the imperial regalia were originally said to have been given by the Sun goddess, Amaterasu, to her grandson when he first descended to earth and became the founder of the imperial dynasty. In his 14th-century Jinnō Shōtōki, the scholar Kitabatake Chikafusa, associated with the Ise Shintō tradition, assigned each of the three treasures a corresponding virtue: the sword Kusanagi represents valor, the jewel Magatama represents wisdom, and the mirror Yata no Kagami represents benevolence, an interpretation that proved highly influential for the broader medieval theory of Japan's divine origin (shinkoku).
The first audience after the enthronement The second is called Sokui-go-Choken-no-gi (即位後朝見の儀). The new emperor will meet leaders of the tripartite political system as the representatives of citizens for the first time.
Proclaiming enthronement at the main palace
The third part of the ceremony, called Sokuirei-Seiden-no-gi (即位礼正殿の儀), is the ritual to proclaim and congratulate the enthronement.
This ancient rite was traditionally held in Kyoto, the former capital of Japan. Following the promulgation of the postwar constitution, it has been done in Tokyo. Only part of the ritual is public, and the regalia itself is generally seen only by the emperor and a few Shinto priests. First comes a three-hour ceremony in which the new emperor ritually informs his ancestors that the enthronement is about to take place. This is then followed by the enthronement itself. The throne is an enclosure called the Takamikura, containing a great square pedestal upholding three octagonal pedestals and a simple chair. This is surrounded by an octagonal pavilion with curtains, surmounted by a great golden phoenix. At the same time, the empress, in full dress regalia, moves to a smaller adjacent throne beside her husband's. Traditional drums are beaten to start the proceedings.
The emperor then proceeds to his chair. The Kusanagi no Tsurugi, Yasakani no Magatama, privy seal and state seal are placed on stands next to the emperor. A simple wooden sceptre is presented to the emperor, who faces the prime minister standing in an adjacent courtyard, representing the Japanese people. The emperor makes a speech followed by one from the prime minister. This is followed by three cheers of banzai from all of those present.
This moment of the rite ends with the firing of a 21-gun salute by the Japan Self-Defense Forces. After this, both seals and the two regalia items are carried off the imperial pavilion.
Celebratory parade
The fourth, called Shukuga-Onretsu-no-gi (), is the motorcade procession. The emperor and empress, are both driven through Tokyo towards the Akasaka Estate by the state limousine (御料車) to acknowledge the cheers of the citizens on the major streets of the capital who have assembled there. As head of state, the emperor also receives the first salutes on that segment by a guard of honour of the Japan Self-Defense Force and the Imperial Guard Headquarters of the National Police Agency (皇宮警察本部).
In this ceremony, the Imperial Household Agency and constables of the Imperial Guard Headquarters provide guards of honor and security while the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department's Police band and Japan Ground Self-Defense Force Music Corps play suitable music.
Court and prime ministerial banquets The fifth is the official banquet, called Kyouen-no-gi (饗宴の儀), which is the occasion to announce and celebrate the enthronement, and to receive the felicitations of the guests invited for the event, which is held currently within Tokyo Imperial Palace.
An additional banquet is hosted by the prime minister and their spouse in Tokyo to thank foreign heads of state and dignitaries for attending the enthronement, and to foster a greater understanding of Japan by presenting displays of traditional Japanese culture. This banquet is an event out of the scope of constitutional functions (国事行為).
History of the enthronement ceremony
As far as the records in the Kiki are concerned, the enthronement ceremony was held on the first day of the year. It is believed that when Sexagenary calendar cycle system was imported from the Sui dynasty during the reign of Empress Suiko, the accession to the throne on the first day of the year was adopted, following the example of the continental emperors.
The enthronement ceremony was integrated with the Daijō-sai, a ceremony introduced under the reign of Empress Kōgyoku. During this, the new emperor welcomes Amaterasu for the first time, centering on the offering of sacred food and a communal meal ritual.
Although the details of the ceremony are not clear even in the Chronicles, the Divine Instruments were first given and received, and the ceremony of ascending to the "platform" was held on the same day or later.
The first time the rituals were recorded in detail was on New Year's, during the fourth year of Shuchō (February 14, 690). It is the enthronement ceremony of Empress Jitō. At this time, the ceremony was as follows Isonokami Maro establishes the Big Shield. Nakatomi Oshima, Count of Shingi recites the Tenjin Jyushi. Imaizumi Irochi consecrates the sacred Kusanagi no Tsurugi and Yata no Kagami. The one hundred lords and ladies of the court assemble and perform an eightfold kashiwate.
At this point, the Tenjin Jyushi had been recited twice, along with the Dai-namesai. In the Yōrō Code (720), it is also stated that "on the day of , the sermon of Tenjin is performed and the mirror and sword of the Imbibe's divine regalia are raised." It is clear that the transfer of sacred artifacts took place after the jubilee.
However, at the time of the succession to the throne of Emperor Kanmu, the enthronement was followed by the Imperial Rescript at Daikoku-den (大黒殿) which effectively separated the from the enthronement. In 930, the and Enthronement were effectively separated with the enthronement of Emperor Suzaku.
In the 870s, the Teikan Ritual and the 11th century Eke Yosei, the accession ceremony was clearly defined as follows.
The Emperor faces south with a ladle in his high seat. The Emperor faces the south on his high throne, holding a ladle. Kashiwate, dancing, and congratulating the Emperor and his hundred officials, and three cheers given by the military officials.
Here, the Yōrō Code's provisions for the transfer of the Sword and Seal and the Tenjin jubilee were removed, and the ceremony took on a more continental style, with the emperor facing south and wearing ceremonial dress.
However, by the middle of the Heian period, this form had already broken down, and the pseudo-attendants in the palace were joined by the uchi-ben (equivalent to a superior lord) and sotoben (a designated official who attended the ceremony in general). Only nominated persons stood. No one below the rank of a nobleman was allowed to attend. From the Middle Ages to the early modern period, it was common for the soto-ben to consist of two each of the daimon, chunagon, and councilors. In the Middle Ages and early modern times, the sotoben were usually two each from the daionnagon, chunnagon, and counselor. Only a limited number of nobles and officials, such as those in charge of ceremonies, participated in the coronation ceremony, and nobles who did not have that role, even ministers, watched from inside the draperies on either side of the high throne.
The enthronement ceremony of Emperor Go-Ichijō on February 7, 1016, was conducted by Dainagon, Fujiwara no Sanesuke, a major figure in the Royal court, who wrote in detail in his diary, "Shōyūki", that he was able to observe the enthronement ceremony as a spectator, not as a participant. In addition, from the late Heian period (after Emperor Horikawa) onward, the regent was in the middle or lower tier of the high palace, and the sekibaku in Sokutai in the east curtain of the north classic aisle, behind the high palace (to the right when viewed from the south). The regent of Emperor Go-Ichijō, Fujiwara no Michinaga, was also in this position, so it is highly likely that early regents were in this position as well.
As a rule, throughout the Heian period, the venue for ceremonies was the Daigoku-den Hall of the Chodo-in (the eight sects), but due to the burning of the Daigoku-den, Emperor Yōzei used the Fengakuden Hall. Due to illness, Emperor Reizei ascended the throne in the Shichinden Hall of the Interior, and due to the burning of the Daigoku-den, Emperor Go-Sanjō moved it also. Emperor Antoku used the Hall of the Capital in the Inner Palace. Since the Daigoku-den Hall fell into disuse after the Great Fire of Angen in 1176, all emperors from the Kamakura period to Emperor Go-Tsuchimikado of the mid Muromachi period, with the exception of Go-Murakami, Chōkei, and Go-Kameyama of the Southern Court, who were not in Kyoto. After Go-Kashiwabara, the Grand Council of State was not rebuilt, and the Hall of the Capital was used, where it remained until Emperor Meiji.
In the Middle Ages and later (the first example is said to be Emperor Go-Sanjō, but it is said to have become customary after Emperor Go-Fukakusa), a Buddhist-style ceremony called the Accession ceremony was also held. This style was continued until the late Edo period.
Although the enthronement ceremony is one of the most important imperial events, the Emperor Go-Kashiwabara of the Sengoku period 1500, was unable to perform the ceremonies, but in 1521, he performed the enthronement ceremony in his 21st year on the throne, based on assistance from the Muromachi shogunate and others. The direct trigger for the ceremony was the shogunate's donation of 20,000 rolls of rice, but in reality, it was not possible to carry out the ceremony with that little money, as the shogunate had donated money several times since the Bunki era, and the Imperial Court had accumulated tools prepared with donations from Honganji and others. Emperor Go-Nara's accession to the throne was postponed for about ten years due to lack of funds, even though there were many items left over from the accession of Emperor Go-Kashiwabara. In the case of Emperor Ogimachi, the imperial treasury was unable to contribute to the cost of the coronation, and the ceremony was held with the assistance of Mōri Motonari. However, despite many difficulties, the ceremony has been performed without fail in every generation, except for Emperor Chūkyō, who only reigned for a short time due to the Jōkyū War.