Tens of thousands of people gathered yesterday at a national festival
to celebrate the enthronement of Japan’s Emperor Naruhito with dancers
and pop stars offering jubilant performances. Some 10,000 citizens who
won hard-to-get tickets and 20,000 invited guests attended the evening
festival at Tokyo’s Imperial Palace Plaza, which was broadcast live
across the nation. The festival came after Naruhito completed his
ascension to the Chrysanthemum throne on October 22 in a ceremony
steeped in the traditions and grandeur of a monarchy that claims 2,000
years of history. Today, the royal couple will parade in a convertible
car along a 4.6-kilometre (2.9-mile) route from the palace to their
residence in central Tokyo to mark the enthronement.
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