Japan’s new Emperor Naruhito ascends Chrysanthemum ThroneBy The Manila Timeshome/Second Headline/Japan’s new Emperor Naruhito ascends Chrysanthemum ThroneTOKYO: Japan’s new Emperor Naruhito formally ascended the Chrysanthemum Throne on Wednesday, a day after his father abdicated from the world’s oldest monarchy and ushered in a new imperial era. Naruhito will greet his first foreign head of state as emperor later this month, when US President Donald Trump visits Japan to meet the new monarch. Balancing actThe Oxford-educated Naruhito faces the delicate balancing act of continuing his father’s legacy of bringing the monarchy closer to the people while upholding the centuries-old traditions of the Chrysanthemum Throne. Naruhito is ascending the throne in a very different Japan to the one his father took over when he became emperor in 1989. “I hope the new emperor will carry on the kindness the old emperor had.”Political parties across the spectrum also welcomed the new emperor — including the Communist Party, whose official platform considers the monarchy incompatible with democracy.

Source: Manila Times May 01, 2019 01:58 UTC