Emperor Naruhito, Empress Masako all smiles as crowds cheer for them at Tokyo parade

A parade celebrating the ascension of Emperor Naruhito to the throne took place as a national ceremony on the afternoon of Nov. 10 from the Imperial Palace in Tokyo's Chiyoda Ward to the Akasaka Imperial Palace in the capital's Minato Ward on a course approximately 4.6 kilometers long.

Both Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako were driven in a car with an open roof, and responded to members of the public who had gathered to witness the first parade of the Reiwa era with smiles and waves.

The government had newly ordered a Toyota hybrid Century sedan for the occasion, which had then been converted for the event. The Imperial Couple got into the car at the Imperial Palace at around 3 p.m. The Emperor was dressed in a cutaway coat, with a top-ranking medal on his chest, while the Empress was dressed in a long white dress with a tiara and a medal.

The Imperial Household Agency's music department performed a new march that had been composed for the occasion as the motorcade left the palace, led by a motorcycle team from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). Following cars carrying Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and others, the convertible drove at a slow pace of about 10 kilometers per hour. Just behind the Imperial Couple was a car carrying Crown Prince Akishino and Crown Princess Kiko. All told, there were 46 vehicles in the motorcade, including security vehicles, stretching some 400 meters.

Awaiting the motorcade that crossed the Nijubashi Bridge to leave the grounds of the Imperial Palace was the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force's Honor Guard, which conducted a gun salute. After the motorcade took a right turn at the intersection in front of Nijubashi Bridge, it headed straight toward Sakuradamon, where the MPD is headquartered, and to the front gate of the National Diet building.

In the parade celebrating the enthronement of the now Emperor Emeritus Akihito in November 1990, the motorcade proceeded to Miyakezaka hill from the front gate of the Diet. However, to decrease the amount of time the motorcade runs along the overpass of the highway and increase the time it is visible from nearby sidewalks, this time the motorcade took a left turn and drove toward the Hirakawacho district

Many members of the public were gathered on Aoyama-dori Avenue, which runs along the Akasaka Imperial Grounds. As the car carrying the Imperial Couple drew near, the crowds cheered, waving their hands and little Rising Sun flags. In addition to the bands of the Self-Defense Forces and the MPD, those of other organizations such as the Tokyo Fire Department played marches, producing a spectacular effect. The motorcade took some 30 minutes to arrive at the Akasaka Imperial Palace where the Imperial Couple live.

The Japanese government had originally planned to hold the parade on Oct. 22, the same day as the Emperor's enthronement ceremony, but in consideration of the great damage incurred across the country from Typhoon Hagibis, the 19th of the season, the parade had been postponed.

Source:
Many members of the public were gathered on Aoyama-dori Avenue, which runs along the Akasaka Imperial Grounds. As the car carrying the Imperial Couple drew near, the crowds cheered, waving their hands and little Rising Sun flags. In addition to the bands of the Self-Defense Forces and the MPD, those of other organizations such as the Tokyo Fire Department played marches, producing a spectacular effect. The motorcade took some 30 minutes to arrive at the Akasaka Imperial Palace where the Imperial Couple live.

The Japanese government had originally planned to hold the parade on Oct. 22, the same day as the Emperor's enthronement ceremony, but in consideration of the great damage incurred across the country from Typhoon Hagibis, the 19th of the season, the parade had been postponed.

Source:
The Mainichi Shinbun, 10 November 2019
(Japanese original by Hiroyuki Takashima, City News Department)