The Topeka state journal., 1914-02-07
Coronation of the Emperor
Takes Place in November.
The Greatest CeremOv in Her
History Is Planned.
HAVE WRITTEN $4,000 POEMS
The New Mikad0's Subjects
Thus Attest His Popularity.
Authors of the Best Read Them
at q Party.

Toxic Feb. 7.-With the appoint
ment Of coronation commission,
plans are now we'll under way for the
"erandest ceremony in the history OF
Japan" next autumn. when the En-
peror Yoshihito will be crowned ruler
OF the Japanese empire. The date
has been tentatively fixed for the
early part Of November. The festiv-
tiles, which will be under the general
supervision of Prince Fushimi as
chief of the coronation committee.
will continue over several days, In
cluding the Daishosai, or feast, after
the coronation rites have been OBJ
served.
The scene OF the ceremonies will be
in the sacred, ancestral halls of the
Shishenden, located in the compound
Of the former imperial palace of
Kioto, the ancient capital of the en-
pire. Coincident with the coronation
a big naval review will be held either
in Osaka bay. off Kobe, or in Toxic
bay, near Yokohama The city OF
Kioto will also open IN industrial ex-
hibition to continue for q month.
In view OF the large number OF Wis
itors expected measures are being
considered for improvement Of the
sanitary conditions Of Kioto, including
widening Of the streets and recon-
The municipality will set an example
by building a large hotel to accom-
modate foreigners. The police ar
rangements will also be extended.
A military ball will probably be
held in Toxic in connection with the
ceremonies. The whole Japanese
people are looking forward to the
November festivities. expecting that
they will inaugurate an era of good
business.
1t is doubtful that any foreign
countries will dispatch special ENJOYS
dations for official guests at Kioto
will be limited, but the representa-
tives Of the powers regularly accred-
tied to Japan will attend.
The emperor's popularity has re-
Gently been attested by some thirty
thousand poems written by his sub
jects and dedicated to his majesty. 1t
was one of the features OF the New
Year celebration, the contest being re-
the emperor might learn the needs Of
his people. =
This Is how the competition was
conducted, under the auspices Of the
emperor himself: The poems were sent
to the department Of household which
III 81 saw " Tic OlSlu1cCI1OA OF the
manuscripts. This precaution having
been taken. the verses were packed in
bundles and passed on to the poetry
bureau. Recording officials made
copies and had them bound in three
hundred volumes. each volume con-
tanning one-hundred poems. The Sc
lection committee reviewed this great
stack Of books. and selected two-hun-
dred Of the best efforts, and these
were again copied for an edition de
luxe. To make the final selection most
fair, the names Of the composers were
omitted. After careful perusal Of the
selected gems the authors Of the best
verses were invited to read them in
the presence Of his majesty on the day
Of the imperial poetry party.
After eight years work the biggest
dry dock in Japan has been completed
at the Maidxuru naval station on the
western coast. The dock will accom-
modate warships up to $4,000 tons dis
placement and be an important addf-
tion to Japanese naval facilities.