City
Epaper

Japan's Emperor, Empress participate in motor parade

By IANS | Updated: November 10, 2019 14:45 IST

Japanese Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako on Sunday participated in a motor parade here to celebrate the recent enthronement.

Open in App

Surrounded by an escort team riding 16 motorcycles, the royal couple set out in a convertible Toyota Century sedan, especially remodeled for the occasion which was fitted with white tapestries and its height and angles designed to help spectators get a better view of the royals over the 4.6-km long route, Efe news reported.

According to estimates, more than 100,000 people gathered along the route, waving the national flag and taking photos of the parade, which lasted half an hour. Many had travelled from across the country to witness the occasion.

This was the first parade held by the couple since their 1993 wedding and following the official enthronement ceremony on October 22.

The ceremony had been postponed due to the damage caused by powerful Typhoon Hagibis, which killed dozens of people and caused significant damage in eastern and central Japan, and in consideration for the victims' families.

Many people had been unable to watch the enthronement ceremonies because of power outages due to the typhoon damage.

The convertible used by the royal couple was followed by cars carrying the Emperor's brother, Crown Prince Fumihito, and his wife Crown Princess Kiko, as well as Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

In total, 46 vehicles, including official cars and escort motorcycles, were part of the 400-meter long motorcade, which started from the Imperial Palace and passed by iconic locations such as parliament before ending at the official residence in Akasaka.

Authorities deployed around 26,000 officers and established extensive security measures, including around 40 checkpoints along the route, blockades on nearby roads and restrictions on using metro stations in the area.

Naruhito ascended the Chrysanthemum throne on May 1, a day after the first abdication in the country in more than 200 years by his father Akihito.

However, the official proclamation of his enthronement was carried out in October, in a ceremony equivalent to a coronation.

The enthronement was attended by around 2,000 guests, including Japanese dignitaries, heads of states from across the world and other international representatives.

( With inputs from IANS )

Tags: Crown Prince FumihitoCrown Princess KikojapanShinzo Abe
Open in App

Related Stories

CricketJapan vs UAE Live Cricket Streaming: Where and How to Watch ICC Men's T20 World Cup East Asia Pacific Qualifier Match 9

OpinionsChina’s Move... Fictator’s Fortune!

InternationalHeatwave in Japan: Temperatures in Tokyo Cross 40 Degrees Celsius, Breaks 150-Year-Old Record

NationalBengaluru: Class 7 Student Dies by Suicide; Police Investigate Possible Link to Japanese Web Series ‘Death Note’

InternationalEarthquake of Magnitude 8.8 Is Equal to Explosion of 15,900 Atomic Bombs Like Hiroshima, Claims Grok

International Realted Stories

InternationalHighway mishap kills 6, injures 3 in east Afghanistan

InternationalBangladesh tightens security amid shutdown ahead of verdict in case against Sheikh Hasina

InternationalSouth Korean Prez Lee vows stern punishment for lax workplace safety after Ulsan power plant collapse

InternationalClashes erupt in Mexico City during Gen-Z-led protests against crime, corruption

InternationalUS naval chief says utilising South Korea's nuclear sub to counter China is 'natural expectation'