Emperor Naruhito’s Enthronement Banquet

Emperor Naruhito of Japan is being Officially Enthroned as the 126th Emperor on the Chrysanthemum Throne in a series of Ceremonies and Banquets in Tokyo this week, with a multitude Royal Guests from around the world in attendance. Emperor Naruhito acceded to the Chrysanthemum Thone in May after the abdication of Emperor Akihito the previous day. Click HERE to learn about the Enthronement. 

In the evening, Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako hosted a Banquet to celebrate their Enthronement at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo. The Imperial Couple received their guests in the Seiden-Take-no-Ma (Audience Room).

The Royal Guests and Heads of State were shown the Imperial Throne for the Emperor and August Seat of the Empress in the Seiden-Matsu-no-Ma (State Room), followed by drinks in the Shunju-no-Ma (Grand Hall), which included entertainment by bugaku, traditional Japanese court music and dancing.

Then, the Emperor and Empress led their guests to the Homei-Den (State Banquet Hall) for the Banquet, followed by after-dinner drinks in the Shunju-no-Ma (Grand Hall). Later, the Imperial Couple and their guests moved on to the Matsukaze-no-Ma (Drawing Room), where the Emperor and Empress bid farewell to their guests before exiting the room.

Emperor Naruhito wore the Order of the Chrysanthemum while Empress Masako wore the Meiji Scroll Tiara and the Order of the Chrysanthemum.

King Carl XVI Gustaf (in the Order of the Chrysanthemum) and Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden (wearing the Laurel Wreath Tiara and the Order of the Chrysanthemum

Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei and Prince Mateen of Brunei

King Mswati III and Queen LaMashwama of Eswatini

King Letsie III and Queen ‘Masenate Mohato Seeiso of Lesotho

Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg (wearing the Order of the Chrysanthemum

Prince Albert II of Monaco

King Jigme and Queen Jetsun Pema of Bhutan (wearing the Bhutanese Turquoise Bandeau Tiara)

King Tupou VI and Queen Nanasipauʻu Tukuʻaho of Tonga

King Willem-Alexander (wearing the Order of the Chrysanthemum) and Queen Máxima of the Netherlands (in the Mellerio Ruby Tiara and Parure and the Order of the Precious Crown)

King Philippe (wearing the Order of the Chrysanthemum) and Queen Mathilde of Belgium (in the Nine Provinces Tiara and the Order of the Precious Crown)

Emir of Qatar

King Felipe VI (wearing the Order of the Chrysanthemum) and Queen Letizia of Spain (in the Spanish Fleur-de-Lys Tiara, Diamond Earrings, and Diamond Bracelets and the Order of the Precious Crown)

King Abdullah and Queen Azizah of Malaysia (in the Gandik Diraja Tiara)

The Prince of Wales (wearing the Order of the Chrysanthemum)

Crown Princess Kiko of Japan (wearing the Diamond Scroll Tiara)

Crown Prince Frederik (wearing the Order of the Chrysanthemum) and Crown Princess Mary of Denmark (in her Diamond Necklace Tiara)

Crown Prince Haakon of Norway (wearing the Order of the Chrysanthemum)

Hereditary Prince Alois of Liechtenstein

Crown Prince Hussein of Jordan

Prince Moulay Rachid of Morocco

Prince Turki bin Mohamed of Saudi Arabia

On the morning of October 22nd, Emperor Naruhito of Japan performed a ritual reporting his ascension to the throne in front of the Kashiko-dokoro, in one of the Imperial Palace’s three sanctuaries, which houses the sun goddess Amaterasu, the legendary ancestor of the imperial line. Wearing traditional white sokutai robes, the Emperor bowed and read aloud a statement at the shrine, while Empress Masako, dressed in many-layered jūnihitoe robes, made obeisance, followed by other members of the imperial family, as well as Prime Minister Abe Shinzō and other representatives of the different branches of government in the garden in front of the shrine.

In the afternoon, Emperor Naruhito, in full imperial robes, arrived in the Seiden-Matsu-no-Ma of the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, to take his seat on the Takamikura Imperial Throne, followed by Empress Masako, also in full imperial robes, who ascended to the Michodai, the August Seat of the Empress, while the Sacred Objects, the sword, Kusanagi, and the jewel, Yasakani no Magatami, and State and Privy Seals were laid on a table. The Emperor read out a statement declaring his accession to the throne, followed by a speech by the Prime Minister and three cheers, followed by the Emperor and Empress’ exit, which marked the completion of the 30-minute ceremony.


The extended Imperial Family, Royal Guests and Dignitaries observed the Ceremony from across the courtyard of the Imperial Palace but did not interact with the Emperor and Empress.

King Carl XVI Gustaf (wearing the Order of the Chrysanthemum) and Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden (in the Order of the Chrysanthemum

Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei and Prince Mateen of Brunei

King Mswati III and Queen LaMashwama of Eswatini

King Letsie III and Queen ‘Masenate Mohato Seeiso of Lesotho

Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg (wearing the Order of the Chrysanthemum)

King Norodom Sihamoni of Cambodia

Prince Albert II of Monaco

King Jigme and Queen Jetsun Pema of Bhutan

King Tupou VI and Queen Nanasipauʻu Tukuʻaho of Tonga

King Willem-Alexander (wearing the Order of the Chrysanthemum) and Queen Máxima of the Netherlands (in the Dutch Diamond Trellis Necklace, House Diamond Earrings, and the Order of the Precious Crown)

King Philippe (wearing the Order of the Chrysanthemum) and Queen Mathilde of Belgium (in the Order of the Precious Crown)

Emir of Qatar

King Felipe VI (wearing the Order of the Chrysanthemum) and Queen Letizia of Spain (in Queen Victoria Eugenie’s Diamond RivièreQueen Sofia’s Emerald Earrings and the Order of the Precious Crown)

King Abdullah and Queen Azizah of Malaysia

The Prince of Wales (wearing the Order of the Chrysanthemum)

Crown Prince Frederik (wearing the Order of the Chrysanthemum) and Crown Princess Mary of Denmark (in the Danish Ruby Parure)

Crown Prince Haakon of Norway (wearing the Order of the Chrysanthemum)

Hereditary Prince Alois of Liechtenstein

Crown Prince Hussein of Jordan

Crown Prince Salman of Bahrain

Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammad of Kuwait

On the afternoon of October 23rd, Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako hosted a tea party for their Foreign Royal Guests at the Akasaka Imperial Palace, which was attended by members of the Imperial Family, including Emperor Emeritus Akihito and Empress Emerita Michiko.

Finally, that evening, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe hosted a Dinner for Foreign Representatives at the Hotel New Otani in Tokyo. Following cocktails in the Fuyo banquet room, guests viewed cultural performances: a “Sanba-so” Kyogen, Kabuki & Bunraku performance and a “Shakkyo” Noh performance in the Tsuru banquet room, which were followed by the Dinner, that included a speech and toast by the Prime Minister.

 

Meiji Scroll Tiara

Imperial Chrysanthemum Tiara

Diamond Scroll Tiara

Japanese Pearl Sunburst Tiara

Japanese Imperial Tiaras

Chrysanthemum Earrings

Pearl Necklace

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On the evening of October 22nd, Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako hosted a Banquet to celebrate their Enthronement at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo. The Imperial Couple received their guests in the Seiden-Take-no-Ma (Audience Room), before they were shown the Imperial Throne for the Emperor and August Seat of the Empress in the Seiden-Matsu-no-Ma (State Room), followed by drinks in the Shunju-no-Ma (Grand Hall), which included entertainment by bugaku, traditional Japanese court music and dancing.

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Then, the Emperor and Empress led their guests to the Homei-Den (State Banquet Hall) for the Banquet, followed by after-dinner drinks in the Shunju-no-Ma (Grand Hall). Later, the Imperial Couple and their guests moved on to the Matsukaze-no-Ma (Drawing Room), where they bid farewell to their guests before exiting the room.

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Emperor Naruhito wore White Tie with the Sash and Star of the Order of the Paulownia Flowers and the Star and Collar of the Order of the Chrysanthemum. Empress Masako wore a white Gown with the Meiji Scroll Tiara, Diamond Riveres, Chrysanthemum EarringsPearl Sunburst Brooch, and the Order of the Precious Crown.

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Alongside members of the Imperial Family, Royal Guests and Dignitaries included:

Prince Akishino wore the Order of the Chrysanthemum while Princess Kiko wore the Crown Princess Diamond Scroll Tiara and the Order of the Precious Crown. Princess Mako (in her 20th-Birthday Tiara and the Order of the Precious Crown), Princess Kako (wearing her Diamond Tiara and the Order of the Precious Crown), and extended members of the Imperial Family, including former Princesses, (in their Personal Tiaras and the Order of the Precious Crown) were also present.22

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