No.96 Ceremony of the Enthronement of His Majesty the Emperor

This year, a new Emperor ascended the throne, and the era name changed from Heisei to Reiwa. The "Ceremony of Accession" is a state act based on the constitution, and a series of events consists of five rituals.

Ceremony of Succession of the Sword and Seal
This is a ceremony to inherit the sword and jewel, two of the three sacred treasures (mirror, jewel, sword) that represent the authority of the Emperor, which was held on May 1, 2019.
Ceremony of Audience after Ascension
This is the ceremony where the new Emperor first addresses the Prime Minister and others, held on the same day.
Ceremony of the Enthronement in the State Hall
This ceremony declares the enthronement to both domestic and international audiences, inviting foreign heads of state and leaders, with domestic representatives attending, held on October 22, 2019. In the Pine Room of the Imperial Palace, the Emperor ascended to the "Takamikura" and the Empress to the "Michodai," where His Majesty the Emperor delivered his "words," the Prime Minister read a congratulatory message, and all attendees chanted "banzai" three times.
Banquet Ceremony
This is a court banquet to entertain domestic and foreign guests who attended the Ceremony of the Enthronement, held in four sessions including October 22, 2019.
Ceremony of Celebration Procession
This is a parade from the Imperial Palace to the Akasaka Estate using the imperial car, which was conducted on November 10, 2019, in a newly prepared open car.

Thus, a series of ceremonies related to the enthronement were successfully completed. The Ceremony of the Enthronement is the central ritual of the enthronement, and October 22, 2019, became a special holiday for the people to express their congratulations, with 1,999 representatives from 191 countries and regions in attendance.
By the way, the Ceremony of the Enthronement was held on this day amidst heavy rain from the morning. Although Typhoon No. 20, which was approaching the Japanese archipelago, had turned into an extratropical cyclone by the evening of the previous day, it still maintained strong force and was moving north off the coast of Chiba Prefecture.
As I waited for the television broadcast starting at 1 PM, I recalled the sight of the royal family members heading to the Kashikodokoro with their bat umbrellas in the morning, and the Emperor walking along the outer corridor in the rain for preparations, worrying about the weather.
However, just a few minutes before the ceremony began, the outside of the house suddenly became quiet. When I went outside to check, I was surprised to see blue skies peeking through! It was as if to celebrate the enthronement ceremony. Even more astonishing was that after the approximately 30-minute ceremony ended, the clear skies closed up, and it started to rain again.
I heard that this phenomenon occurred not only over Inagi City but also over a wide area of eastern Japan. Many photos of a large rainbow over the Imperial Palace were posted on social media. It is truly mysterious, but is it just a coincidence, or...
In His Majesty's remarks this time, he declared the succession to the throne in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution and the Special Law on the Imperial House, deeply reflecting on the fact that His Majesty the Emperor Emeritus has always wished for the happiness of the people and world peace, and pledged to fulfill his duties as a symbol of the unity of Japan and the Japanese people, hoping earnestly for our country to achieve further development and contribute to friendship and peace in the international community, as well as the welfare and prosperity of humanity.
While listening to His Majesty's words, I renewed my feelings of wishing for the development and safety of Inagi City within the scope of my responsibilities.