The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-11-10
Coronation of Mikado Is Public Ceremony for First
 Time in History
BOTH FOREIGNERS AND
 JAPANESE PRESENT
Ancient Ceremonial Is Carried Out in Conformity With Traditional Customs of Japanese
 Royalty

Kioto, November 1o.--For the first time in history, the people of Japan and the representatives of the people of foreign lands were present today at tho corona ton of a Mikado, when Yoshhito son of
 Mutsuhito, 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 veneration of the im- perial ancestral gods and of the formal accession to sanctity of the monarch of today Yoshihito-direot descendant of the immortal Jimmu, tue first Emperor and founder of the empire and descendant also, according to tradition, of the sun goddess and imperial grand ancestress, Amaterasu Omilsam who dwelt in tho heavenly regions in prehistoric ages.
 Royal Tradition
 The essence of the accession ceremony centered about the ISashkodokoro or sacred mirror which represents the spirit of the sun goddess Amaterasu. This di-
 vine mirror. supposed to 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 treas
 ures and symbolize 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 Shun-
 koden hall. where was enshrined the
 sacred mirror brought from ToSio.
 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 time when without abandoning his heavenly given sanctity he consented to emerge from his historic Isolation, In the olden days the people were not present. Vaguely they
 heard that the monarch had accecded to his throne. but they had no prerogative in the matter
 People Invited
 Today they were actually invited to
 t1e ceremonies. Their representatives in
 Parliament were there grouped about the imperial throne symbolizing the new Japan.
 The Shunkoden was of plain, unvarnish- ed wood and consisted of an outer hall. inner hall and shrine. It was simply dec- orated. Indeed simplicity dominates the coronation ceremonies. The decorations
 were those of Shintoism, the religion adopted by the court, which is more pro- nouncedly a series of rites than re- ligion pure and simple. Beside the main hall were built other halls and annexes for the accommodation of the people par ticipating in and witnessing the cere- monies.
 At the appointed time the two gates "kenrei- mon" and 'kenshun- mon"--- respectively facing south and east were opened for the reception of those allowed to attend the grand ceremony. The guards about the gates were ex- clusively those in the service of the imperial household. Then arrived the sts-distinguished officials, civil and military nobles. the members of the House of Representative and the i, House of Peers, the diplomatic corps and other dignitaries accompanied by their wives, alle in full dress uniform. The foreign women wore the ceremonial robes of the European court with train. The United States was represented by Ambassador George w. Guthrie and Mrs. Guthrie. On account of lack of sufficient space it was necessary to abandon the plan of inviting the suites of the American and other diplomatic representatives. They will attend tho second coronation ceremony in Shishii- den hall this afternoon.
 The masters of ceremonies, rituals, court musicians and other officials and officers participating in the ceremonies also arrived in due time, all dressed in ancient ceremonial costume or uniform. A democratic note in the matter Of dress was that the members of the | m .I~ sador Guthrie wore plain evening dress. Other Japanese who did not have an actual part in the ceremonies wore a uniform of black coat white waistcoat and white trousers. The ambassadors and ministers of other countries wore their dress uniform.
 Await Emperor's Arrival Subsequently the princes and princesses of the blood and other mem bers of the imperial house entered the Giyoden hall, nearby, and there awaited the arrival of the Emperor. Shortly aft erward the Emperor made his entry.
 After brief rest his majesty changed his dress, donnfng the ceremonial Shinto costume. and cleansed his hands with sacred water. Meanwhile the princes and princesses of the blood. household ministers. lord keeper of the privy seal, lord chamberlain. chief corona tion commissioner, grand master of ceremonies. chamberlains, maids of honor and other court dignitaries changed their costume to the ancient ceremonial court robes.
 There were nine imperial princesses at the coronation ceremonies. four of them sisters of the Emperor. Their Inn perial Highnesses Asaka, Higashi- Kuni, Kita- -Shirakawa and Takeda. Of highest rank is the Princess Kan-in, daughter of the late Prince Sanjo. a famous Kioto lord of the Meiji era. Next in rank is the Princess Higashi- Fushiini These follow the Princess Fus- ] mimi, Jr., the Princess kun and the Princess Nashimoto
 All appeared at the ceremonies in the ancient ceremonial dress of the Nara