As part of his enthronement ceremony that began on October 22, Naruhito took part in the ‘Daijosai’ ritual, a highly controversial and secret religious ceremony. Conservatives in Japan believe the Japanese Royal Family are descendants of the sun goddess and the Daijosai ritual involved Naruhito spending a symbolic night with the goddess. The ritual, conducted late into the night, before dawn breaks, has been a part of the enthronement ceremony of Japanese emperors for generations. The Daijosai is a Shinto religious ritual in the Japanese enthronement ceremony of the Japanese emperor. The enthronement ceremony of the Japanese emperor occurs in three stages.

Source: Indian Express November 18, 2019 12:00 UTC