Japan’s new Emperor Naruhito takes throne in lavish ancient ceremony in front of global royalty including Prince Charles

JAPAN'S new Emperor Naruhito has pardoned 500,000 criminals while ascending the throne in a lavish ancient ceremony in front of the world’s royalty.

Prince Charles was among scores of foreign dignitaries attending the elaborate event at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo.

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The royal is visiting Japan for two days on behalf of the Queen at the request of the UK Government, which includes a day of engagements to celebrate British-Japanese connections, said Clarence House.

Emperor Naruhito, 59, acceded to the Chrysanthemum Throne in May after his father, Emperor Akihito, became the first Japanese monarch in more than two centuries to abdicate.

But his ascension has only now been formalised after the traditional ceremony this afternoon.

There was a delay to the long-planned celebrations, for which Japan declared a national holiday, because of Typhoon Hagibis, which killed at least 82 people when it tore through 10 days ago.

The event lasted about 30 minutes in front of 2,000 distinguished guests and dignitaries, including King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium.

At the sound of a gong in the Matsu-no-Ma, or Hall of Pine, the most prestigious room in the Imperial Palace, two courtiers bowed deeply and drew back purple curtains on the “Takamikura” - a 6.5m (21ft) high pavilion that weighs about eight tonnes.

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The start of the ceremony was marked by the drawing back of the drapes to reveal Naruhito and his wife, Empress Masako, 55, dressed in elaborate traditional costumes sitting on two thrones.

Naruhito stood in front of a simple throne, dressed in burnt-orange robes and a black headdress, with an ancient sword and a boxed jewel, two of the so-called Three Sacred Treasures, placed beside him.

The ritual - held mostly in silence - represented ancient imperial traditions dating back to the seventh century.

Harvard-educated Empress Masako, wearing heavy 12-layered robes and with hair flowing down her back, stood in front of a smaller throne to the side. Such traditional robes can weigh around 15kg (33lbs).

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Prime Minister Shinzo Abe delivered a congratulatory speech, and led a trio of cheers of “banzai”, or “long life”, for the emperor, before a 21-gun salute.

To mark the occasion, Mr Abe's Cabinet is granting pardons to about 550,000 people convicted of petty crimes like traffic violations.

When Naruhito's grandfather, Hirohito, died in 1989, more than 10million people were pardoned, and 2.5million were granted amnesties to celebrate Akihito's enthronement.

Japanese Emperor Naruhito pledged to fulfil his duty as a symbol of the state.

He told those gathered at the event: “I sincerely hope that Japan will develop further and contribute to the friendship and peace of the international community, and to the welfare and prosperity of human beings through the people’s wisdom and ceaseless efforts.”

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