The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-11-10
YOSHIHITO ACCEDES TO THRONE OF JAPAN
 AMID GREAT POMP
(COntinued from Page One)


 hered strictly to the court regulations which have been observed at coronations Tor F centuries. In these costumes they will also appear at the Grand Harvest Thanksgiving festival, but at social func- t1ons such as banquets. dinners. official balls, they will be gowned in European dress.
 The peeresses of the realm also wore the historic court robe.
 The guards of honor assembled in the courtyard without the gates and high officials attached to the coronation com mittee took positions to the right and left sides of the south gate newly built for the entrance of the Shunkoden hall. The costumes worn by these officials were ceremonial court robes of very ancient origin. The outer garment was a loose vestment worn by the courtiers in olden times and resembling in form the flow ing robe still used by Shinto priests. The color was light blue. Over this was a long garment of gold brocade. Like war riors of old, they carried long, laequered bows in their hands, while quivers of ar rows were slung across their backs. Each man wore a coronet with a pennant of silk gauge coiled at the back of the head while on the sides, just above the ears, were a pair of cocades in the shape of a
 
 outer trousers, a belt of white cloth, and leggings of scarlet as well as a sword with broad girdle completed the cos- tune. A many coIored beautiful scene slowly grew.
 Court Dress
 Two senior and 12 junior officials of the coronation committee in charge of the gongs and snare drums or tsuzumi entered the court yard and stood in two separate rows right and left facing the main hal, of the Shunken. Tn etwo senor off cials were dressed in scarlet overdress. They wore coronets or hoods woven with silk gauge and carried old-fashioned swords at their side. Their wide, full trousers showed below the robe. The junior officials were dressed in almost the same manner, but the overdress was of blue and their loose trousers were of white. They wore cocades white leg gings and shoes of braided cloth. Next entered 40 high officials of the corona tion committee. Eight of them carriat' swords in dobule-faced brocade scab- bards. Eight others carried bows in sacks of flaming scarlet silk and still an- other eight bore quivers of arrows in sacks of purple. The last group held shining shields and halberds. Their dresses were almost the same style as that worn by the men in charge of the gongs and drums. Those of the sword bearers were black. The guards holding the bows and arrows wore scarlet and those holding shields and halberds were attired in light blue, the difference of color representing the degree of their official rank.
 A score of other high officials wearina similar ceremonial robes and carrying swords, boss and arrows in quivers en- tered the hall and took their places. Their role was that of the ancient warrior of the guard. Those of the front row wore black robes with coronet and cocades Their bust was encircled with corselet of thin gold plated metal bound together with leather strips. Around the pro- tecting corselet was a girdle from which hung the sword. This together with the bow, quiver and arrows formed the weapons of the ancients. Those of the back row wore robes of scarlet and car ried pot-shaped quivers.
 Religious Ceremony
 At a given signal the chief participants 1 in the ceremony seated themselves il Japanese fashion on cushions resting or the floor or mating. Then the pounders | of gongs and drums beat their instru ments three times by way of announcing the commencement of the ceremony Leo by high court officials all those present including civil and military officers ant the diplomatic crops who had assembled ! in the ante-chamber rose and entered the main hall All these people were seated also There was a period of impressive | silence suddenly broken by strains oi | music. The steady. clear note of tht Japanese flute was succeeded by harmoni ous softer strains, symbolic of sanctity and joy. This was the kagura or ShintC music played by the court musicians. A: .Ix< -1 -@9k kt< imperial sanctuary were slowly opened and the ritualists placed sacred offer l ings before the altar. This over, thu chief ritualist, majestic in flowing robe: and wearing the stiff oval bonnet of tn, Shinto priest, knelt before the altar ant | then rising read the "norlto" or cere monial address announcing to the soul O. the imperial ancestress, Amaterasu Omi kami, the beginning of the grand acces sion or coronation ceremonies. Anothe profound silence. It was the precursor of the supreme moment and this was th' stately entry of the Emperor and hi suits. The grand master of ceremonies the minister of the household and tw' ! chamberlains preceded his majesty ant each chamberlain bore sacred object one the sword and the other the comma shaped jewel-necklace. Following thu Emperor were the lord champerblain chamberlains, chief aide de camp aide l de camp and at short distance tn i princes of the blood.
 | Premier Count Okuma, who is T year l old, refrained from attending the cere mony, in order to preserve his strengtl for the events of the afternoon. Tn premier was represented by Lieutenan General Oka, minister of war.
 1 YOshihitO's Entrance
 l All rose as his majesty entered am bowed low as he slowly made his wa 1 towards the sanctuary. With statel, ! mods to right and left the Empero acknowledged the respectful greetings 0 the court. his people and the envoy 1 from foreign lands.
 1 The Emperor was a striking vision i pure milk-white robe of gloss sill J The color white Is always worn | cVAn h nf nI1rtf