National May 13, 2019
Turtle-shell divination conducted at Imperial Palace in Tokyo ahead of key succession rite
The ceremony selects Tochigi and Kyoto prefectures to provide the rice for the upcoming Daijosai offering ceremony in mid-November.
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National May 12, 2019
Reiwa calligraphy to be stored at National Archives, made available for commercial use
The government plans to preserve the original calligraphic work Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga displayed when announcing the new era name of Reiwa at the National Archives of Japan, according to government sources. The archived material will be made public from the spring of 2021. ...
National May 8, 2019
In first palace ritual of his reign, Japan's emperor reports enthronement plans to his ancestors
Emperor Naruhito performed his first formal ritual within the Imperial Palace on Wednesday following his ascension to the Chrysanthemum Throne last week, ceremonially reporting to his ancestors that he will take part in major enthronement rites this fall. The emperor read out a statement at ...
National May 7, 2019
Back to the grind: Workers in Japan return after extended Golden Week holiday
The nation went back to work following this year's unprecedented 10-day Golden Week holiday on Tuesday — the first working day of the Reiwa Era. Naoto Tokunaga, 24, showed up at his office near Tokyo Station 30 minutes earlier than usual because he was impatient ...
National May 7, 2019
Drone flights reported again near Imperial Palace in Tokyo in wake of ascension
Riot police observed what they thought was a drone flying over the Kitanomaru Garden located just north of the palace at around 7:30 p.m. Monday.
National May 7, 2019
Nagano mountain hut owner hopes emperor will not give up passion for trekking
The owner of a hut on the Yatsugatake mountain range hopes newly enthroned Emperor Naruhito will not give up his passion for trekking. The 59-year-old emperor, who ascended the throne Wednesday, is known to be very fond of outdoor activities including skiing and jogging, but ...
National / Politics May 5, 2019
Future role of Japan's imperial women in spotlight as family numbers decline
The ascension of Emperor Naruhito has raised questions about how public duties should be shouldered in an ever-shrinking household.
National May 4, 2019
140,000 people greet Japan's Emperor Naruhito as he makes first public appearance since accession
by Ryusei Takahashi
Emperor Naruhito expressed his hopes for progress toward world peace on Saturday at the Imperial Palace, where tens of thousands of people gathered to witness his first public greeting since ascending to the throne on May 1. "I am deeply blessed and grateful for everyone ...
National May 3, 2019
Tokyo police investigating drone flights near imperial residences a day after emperor's accession
The unmanned aircraft were seen Thursday night near the Imperial Palace, the Akasaka Estate — the current home of Emperor Naruhito — and the Musashino Imperial Graveyard in Hachioji.
National May 1, 2019
Controversy over separation of state and religion in Japan rekindled after Shinto imperial rite
As Emperor Naruhito ascended to the throne Wednesday, a key imperial succession ritual related to Shinto rekindled controversy over the separation of state and religion, which is stipulated in the Constitution. Shinto is a Japanese religion in which the emperor is venerated as a descendant ...
National May 1, 2019
by Tomohiro Osaki and Sakura Murakami
Delivering his first speech since ascending to the Chrysanthemum Throne, Japan’s new emperor vowed to “act according to the Constitution” and fulfill his role as the symbol of the state.
National May 1, 2019
Public hope for more of the same from their new emperor and continuing peace for Japan in Reiwa
by Satoshi Sugiyama, Masumi Koizumi and Eric Johnston
As Emperor Naruhito assumed his new role Wednesday, people on the streets of Japan expressed hope that he will continue the legacy of peace shaped by his father.