Bisbee daily review., 1915-11-10
YOSHIHITO IS
CROWNED IN
PUBLIC
For the First Time in the History
of Japan Emperor Is Crowned
Before His People and For
eignerS.
OLD KlOT0 IS CENTER
OF UNRlVALED SCENES
Impressive Is Ceremony Which
Formally Transferred Imperial
Crown 10 the Son Of the Late
Emperor, MutShulto.


KIOTO. Nov. 9.-For the first time
in history. the people of Japan and
the representatives Of the people OF
foreign lands were present today at
the coronation Of a Mikado. when
Yoshihito. son of Nutsuhito, acceeded
to the throne Of Nippon.
The story of this epochal event IS
the history Of old Japan epitomized.
It is the story Of the Japanese deities
of Heaven and Earth, of the yenera-
tion of the imperial ancestral gods
and of the formal accession to sancti-
tv OF the monarch of today-Noshihito
direct descendant Of the immortal
Jimmu. the FIRST Emperor and founder
of the empire and descendant also, ac-
cording to tradition. of the sun God
dess and imperial grand Ancestress'
Amaterasu Omikami who dwelt in the
Heavenly regions in prehistoric ages.
The essence Of the accession cere-
mony centered about the Kashikodoko-
ro or Sacred Mirror, which represents
the spirit of the sun Goddess Amater-
asu. This divine mirror, supposed 10
be of bronze. though no mortal eyes
have gazed upon it, together with the
sacred comma-shaped jewel-necklace
and the sacred sword are known as
the Imperial Treasures and symbolic
the Imperial power The ceremony
of this morning was a ritual service
of ancestor worship and was held in
a specially erected hall in the palace
grounds known as the Shunkoden hall,
where was enshrined the sacred mir
ror brought from Toxic.
The drawing of the veil of seclusion
and the admission Of foreigners and
of the people Of Japan to the holy
service of accession was the visual
evidence of Japan's transition from
the early years when the Emperor
! stood apart in severe separation from
the world to a time when without
abandoning his heayenly-given sancu
ty he consented to emerge from his
historic isolation In the olden days
the people were not present. Vaguely
they heard that the monarch had ac
c6eded to his throne but they had nc
perogative in the matter.
Today they were actually invited t
the ceremonies Their Representatives
in parliament were there grouped
p bout the imperial throne symbolizinI
the new Japan.
} The Shunkoden was of plain, unyaT
nished wood and consisted of an QUITE
, hall. inner hall and shrine 1t wa
, simply decorated Indeed, simplicit,
) dominates the coronation ceremonies
! The decorations were those Of ShintC
ism. the religion adopted by the court
which is more pronouncedly serie
of rites than a religion pure and sin
r lple. Besides the main hall were bull
! other halls and anneXes for the az
r. comodation Of the people participa
b. ing in and witnessing the ceremonies
t At the appointed time the two gate
r "kenrei-mon" and "kenshun-mon' -
4 respectively facing the south and ea'
4 were opened for the reception {
n those allowed to attend the grand ce
l. emony. The guards about the gate
were exclusively those in the serviC
Il OF the imperial household. Then a
L rived the guests-dis distinguished on
y cials. civil and military, mobiles, Il
h members of the House of Represent
D. tives and the House of Peers, the di
n lomatic corps and other dignitari'
4 accompanied by their wives, all in FL
dress or uniforms. The foreign wol
en- wore the ceremonial robes OF q
European court with train.
k The United States was representa-
IN by Ambassador George w Guthrie al
W Mrs Guthrie; by Post Wheeler, q
Is first secretary of the Embassy Al
al Mrs Wheeler; by Colonel James
o. Irons the military attache and MI
h. Irons and by Captain Frederick
* Horne. the naval attache and MI
h. Horne. The guests we're ushered
c the waiting halls The masters of G.
emonies. rituals. court musicians a
as other officials and officers particip
il ing in the ceremonies also arrived
il. due time, all dressed 10 ancient ce
be- monial costume or uniform. A den
IT, cratic note in the matter OF dress "
ID that the members OF tho House OF r.
(Continued on page three)