New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-08-24
PEOPLE TO SEE
IAPAN'S RULER
ASCEND THRONE
Democratic Tinge to Cere.
monies for First Time
in $500 Years.

Toxic, Aug. correspondence OF ne
Associated Press For the first time
in the history of the Japanese Empire,
extending over $500 years, an en-
peror is to accede to the throne in the
presence of the representatives Of his
people. That is one great reason Why
the coronation of Emperor Yoshihito
on November 10 will be regarded as
one of the supreme events in Japanese
national life and why it Is being looked
forward to with such eagerness and
delight by the Emperor's subjects.
Strictly speaking, the ceremony is
not a coronation. but an accession. The
rulers of Nippon wear no crown upon
their heads, but in the presence Of the
spirits Of their ancestors they formally
accede to the dignity and prerogatives
of empcrorship. However, in popular
parlance, the coming great event is
usually referred TO as the coronation.
The ceremonies will last through a
fortnight and will revolve chiefly about
the imperial palaces in the ancient cap
ital of Kyoto The official ceremonies
may be said to be grouped under three
the daiosai. or grand thanksgiving fes-
rivals, and the proclamation of the ac-
cession before the various imperial
mausoleums.
As her majesty the Empress is ex-
pected 10 become a mother about the
time Of the coronation, the Emperor
doubtless will proceed alone TO Kyoto
with great pomp and state, carrying
with him in a specially constructed
train of exquisite workmanship and
decoration the three sacred treasures
which symbolic the authority and
power of the throne.
Sacred Mirror Included.
These treasures are the sacred mir
ror, the sacred sword and the comma
shaped jewel which are always kept in
the sacred sanctuary in the imperial
palace at Toxic. The sword and gem
are sometimes taken by the Emperor
when he leaves the palace, but the
sacred mirror, which is the very es-
sence of the holiness and divinity Of
the Emperor. is never removed from
the palace except on the occasion Of
a coronation.
After staying one night in the city
of Nagoya, Emperor Yoshihito will pro-
coed to Kyoto and stay at the MIC
palace. There the accession ceremonies
will take place in the presence of the
court, ministers of state, members of
the diplomatic corps and, for the first
time in history, representatives of the
people, who in this case will be the
members of the Diet.
The detailed programme of the coro-
nation has not yet been announced, but
&c haf NJ try
will dispatch a special envoy, and that
the various powers will be represent.
ed by the ambassadors and ministers
regularly accredited 10 Japan. One
reason for this is the belief that the
European war may be continuing at
the time of the coronation.
The accession services will take
place in what is known as the skunk
yoden temple, where the gorgeous
throne Of the Emperor will be placed
and where will be witnessed the rare
picture Of court mobiles and priests
dressed in the ancient and picturesque
ceremonial robes The foreign Tepresen-
tatiVes will be ushered 10 their seats by
the sound Of flutes and drums. The
doors Of the sanctuary, where the sa-
cred mirror is placed. will be opened,
and offerings spread before the altar
Entrance of the Emperor.
Then the Emperor. preceded by the
lord chamberlain and minister of the
household, who carry respectively the
sword and gem. will make his en-
trance followed by the princes of the
blood, ministers of state and members
of the coronation commission.
The Emperor will go to the altar and
read an address proclaiming to ;he
spirits of his ancestors that he has
received the sacred treasures and that
he then and there ascends 70 the throne