The government approved Thursday the outline of a ritual to be held this fall to proclaim the enthronement of Emperor Naruhito before international guests, following the style adopted by his father in 1990, despite a controversy surrounding the nature of the rite.
In the Sokuirei Seiden no Gi enthronement ceremony starting at 1 p.m. on Oct. 22, the emperor will give a speech from a 6.5-meter-high canopied throne, known as the takamikura, and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will deliver a yogoto congratulatory message and lead guests in three banzai cheers to wish for the emperor's longevity.
The ritual, for which 2,500 people will be invited, has previously sparked controversy, with critics claiming the emperor's proclamation from a height above the prime minister violates the constitutional principle that the sovereignty of the nation resides with its people.