Japanese Emperor Naruhito celebrates today the one year since his ascension to the throne. As Japan Times reports, the royal thanked the people for its patience amid lockdown, praying for a soon ending of the coronacrisis.
Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako have marked the first anniversary of throne succession. On Friday, the monarch has also completed a series of ceremonies related to his enthroning, such as his enthronement ceremony and the “Daijosai” grand thanksgiving rites.
Empress Masako accompanied her husband during all of the events.
At the “Sokui-go-Choken-no-Gi” ceremony May 1 last year, the Emperor swore to act according to the Constitution. Being the monarch, Naruhito obliged to fulfil his responsibility as the symbol of the state and of the unity of the people of Japan. The Japanese Emperor should always turn his thoughts to the people and standing with them, according to the text of traditional royal swear.
Amid coronavirus lockdown, Emperor Naruhito urged people to keep distance to avoid spreading of the novel virus. The chairman of the Japan Medical Association echoed the royal words and added that it will be difficult for the government to lift the state of emergency declaration after May 6th as scheduled unless the number of COVID-19 infections decrease. However, the Japanese top medical official said it will be a challenge to hold next summer’s Tokyo Olympics unless a novel coronavirus vaccine is developed by then.
During U.S. President Donald Trump’s state visit to Japan later that month, Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako had a pleasant video conversation with Trump and his wife, Melania, without an interpreter. Both Japanese royals are fluently in English, in fact.
