Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1915-08-24
JAPANESE PEOPLE
WILL SEE MIKADO
TAKE THE THRONE
FOR First Time in History of
Empire More Than $500
Years, Emperor viii ACcede
IN View of Subjects,

rotio Aug. IO.-FOr the first time
. me history of the Japanese EN-
,,re extending over $500 years, an
F-,nsror is to acCede TO the throne
= he presence of the representatives
y his neople. That is one great rea-
~ why the coronation of Emperor
yoshibito which takes place on No
amber 10 is regarded as one Of the
e,,preme events in Japanese national
Hfs and why it is being looked for
yard "a with such eagerness and de-
pgbf by the emperOr's subjects
strictly speaking, the ceremony isl
not a coronation but an accession
me rulers of Nippon wear no crown
nnon heir heads, but in the presence
n the spirits OF their ancestors they
formally accede TO the dignity and
nreroeative of emperorship. How
syer in popular parlance the coming
rreat event is usually referred 20 as
the coronation.
The accession or coronation Cere-
monies will last through fortnight
and will revolve chiefly about the inn
perial palaces in the ancient capital
n Kyoto The official ceremonies
may be said to be grouped under
three heads-thOse of the accession
proper. the Daijosal or Grand thanks
giving festivals and the proclamation
of the accession before the various
imperial mausoleums.
Emperor to Go Alone.
In view of the fact that her majes-
~ the empress is expected to become
mother about the time of the cor
onation the emperor will doubtless
proceed alone TO Kyoto with great
pomp and state, carrying with him in
a specially constructed train of eX-
ouiste workmanship and decoration
the three sacred treasures which sym
bolize the authority and power of the
throne These treasures are the sa-
cred mirror, the sacred sword and the
comma shaped jewel which are al
ways kept in the sacred sanctuary in
the imperial palace at Toxic. The
sword and gem are sometimes taken
IN the emperor when he leaves the
palace but the sacred mirror which is
the very essence of the holiness and
divinity of the emperor is never re-
moved from the palace except on the
occasion of a coronation.
After staying one night in the city
Of Nagoya, Emperor Yoshihito viii
proceed to Kyoto and stay at the Nj
10 palace. 1t is there that the cere-
monies of the accession Will take
place in the presence of the MEM
bers of the court, the ministers Of
state. members Of the diplomatic
corps and for the first time in his
tory representatives of the people
who in this case will be the members
Of the diet The detailed program
of the coronation has not vet been
announced, but 1t is expected that no
foreign country will dispatch a spe
Cial envoy and that the various pow
ers will be represented by the am
bassadors and ministers regularly ac-
credited to Japan one reason for this
is the belief that the European war
may be continuing at the time of the
coronation
Services In Ancient Temple.
The services of the accession VIII
take place I'm what is known as the
Shunkyoden temple where the gor-
geous throne of the emperor will be
placed and where will be witnessed a
rare picture of court mobiles ana
priests dressed in the ancient and
picturesque ceremonial robes. The
foreign representatives will be usher
ed TO their seats by the sound of
flutes and drums. The door Of the
sanctuary where the sacred mirror Is
placed will be opened and offerings
spread before the altar. Then the
emperor preceded by the lord cham
berlain and minister Of the household
who carry respectively the SWORD and
gem viii make his entrance follow
ed by the princes of the blood, min.
islers Of state and the members OF
Inc coronation commission
A moment Of silence and then the
emperor will go to the altar and read
an address proclaiming to the spirits
Of his ancestors that he has received
the sacred treasures and that he then
and there ascends to the throne
which is the seat of the son of
heaven. The princes and princesses
Of the blood will render homage and
other japanese in their turn Will do
the same
Al the second ceremony which VIII
be held in the Shishiiden palace, EN-
peror Yoshihto will announce to his
subjects his accession to the throne.
Members Of both houses, local govern
OTIS and other persons representing
me people will be present al this
junction as well as the members OF
me diplomatic corps In striking
contra distinction to the last coron-
auon which was conducted entirely
and exclusively in the presence OF the