TOKYO — Japan’s Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako waved and smiled from an open car in a parade Sunday marking Naruhito’s enthronement as hundreds of thousands of delighted well-wishers cheered, waved small flags and took photos from packed sidewalks. Under Japan’s postwar constitution, the emperor has no political power and is limited to ceremonial roles. Sunday’s parade started from the Imperial Palace, with the Kimigayo national anthem played by a marching band. The parade was the first since Naruhito and Masako’s marriage in June 1993, just three years after their parents celebrated their enthronement in a Rolls Royce. Masako, a former diplomat, has struggled for more than a decade and had largely withdrawn from public appearances until recently.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer November 10, 2019 10:07 UTC