Evening star., 1915-11-10
Yoshihit0 Announces
Accession to People
at Second Ceremony

Politics of an unusual type failed to
prevent Japan's grand old man., Pre-
mier Count Shigenobu Okuma, from
playing a leading role this afternoon
at the second great coronation cere-
mony. when Emperor Yoshihito an
nounced his accession to the people of
the realm.
In the morning Emperor Yoshihito
had informed the spirit of his imperial
grand-ancestress of his formal acces-
sion and of his acquisition of the three
sacred treasures. This afternoons
ceremony belonged in a special way to
the people, for it was dedicated to the
purpose of announcing to them the ac-
cession of the mikado. The emperor
actually mounted the throne and read
an address to his subjects. who, as dur
ing the morning rites. were represent
ed by the members of the diet, gov
ernors of prefectures and the mayors
of the cities of Kioto and Toxic. The
function was held in the renowned
Shishiiden Hall. where the illustrious
monarch Mutsuhito became emperor,
and which, except for reconstruction
in several directions. retained it's an
cient simplicity and beauty. Shishiiden.
which signifies purple hall of mys-
terry" faces south and is made OF the
sacred hnoki wood. with it's roof
matched from the bark of the same
tree.
The scene of the ceremony was laid
partly within the main hall and partly
in the open-air courtway upon which
the hall looked down. Halls for the
spectators extended on each side of
the courtway. AS the Japanese doors
and wall were removed the arrange
ment gave all participants an oppor
tunity to see the setting CT the court
way. the stairs leading to the throne
and the throne itself
Troops Placed on Guard.
The two main gates leading to the
Shishiiden were opened in early morn
ing, the court police acting as guard.
At the appointed time in the afternoon
the police guard was replaced by
troops. who lined up outside the gates
and along the walls of the palace.
The high dignitaries. peers. members
of the house of representatives. mem
bers of the diplomatic corps and their
wives, who had attended the corona
ton Shinto service before the imperial
sanctuary in the morning, arrived in
front of the two side gates OF the
Shishiiden and assembled in a hall,
preliminary to entering the ceremonial
pavilion. The American ladies. as well
as the other ladies of the. diplomatic
corps, for the most part wore the same
court dresses with train as during the
morning Mrs. Guthrie, wife of the
American ann bassador, was an excep-
tion. She wore a gown of white lib
erty satin with a specially designed
court train. embroidered in gardenias
and star jasmine in gold running over
a trellis of silver.
Subsequently arrived thirty officials
of the coronation committee. They
took their posts as the guards of the
portals. representing thus the guardian
warriors of the olden days. They wore
gorgeous court robes of varied hues
and ancient court hats. Passing through
the gates two coronation commission
ers each followed by six juniors took
their eeats beside the gong and drum
stands In the spacious courtWay upon
which the Shishiiden with its open por-
tails looked down. This courtway was
really the stage for the participating
drama of accession. On either side of
the stairs leading TO, the ipterior Of
the Shishiiden stood the famed cherry
tnee and the noble orange tree. These
classical trees were the starting point
of the courtway decorations, which
grew. into splendid picture as the
various officials in their fascinating
gowns of ancient Japan marched in,
one by one. and took their allotted sta :
tions.