Evening star., 1924-01-26
JAPANESE RULER
WEDS IN SPLENDOR
Ancient Ritual Followed as
Hirohito Marries Princess
Nagako.
BY the Associated Press.

: by tIs ShkhCI2ted fress
! TOXIC. January 26.-rn the sacred
| precincts of the imperial palace and
in accordance with the ancient mar
riage ritual antedating the Christian
era, Prince Regent Hirohito was wed
/ ded this morning to Princess Nagako.
! eldest daughter of Prince Kuni.
| Residents OF TOXIC INDUCED in
! joyous celebration of the event, the
first public expression of joy since
the disaster of last September. Great
crowds gathered in the streets. which
| were gayly decorated for the occa-
sion. and thronged the open spaces
| in the vicinity of the palace for a
| glimpse Of the royal couple.
| The wedding was celebrated with
| SEinto rites and was an announce
, mint of the event to the imperial
spirits which are enshrlned In the
| kashiki-Dokoro. or holy Of holies,
in. front of which the pair took their
vows. The spirits of 1872 royal prede-
cess"rs Witnessed the union and gave
their blessings, according to devout
exchanged bowls OF sacred rice wine
to. plight their troth, after the ancient
| ctSton.
TwO-HOur Procession.
Previously, as in the case of acces-
SiGn to the throne. the party. includ :
! Ing members OF the royal family and
! officials rf the household, assembled
| ana for two hours went through Il SLOW
movement toward the shrine, every
! step in which. including the sounding
| Of the clapprrs was according to the
! imperial wedding law
No foreigners witnessed the cere-
mony only the members of the royal
family and the highest dignitaries OF
the empire being permitted to attend.
The garb of the regent was the sim l.
! pie. dress suit of a Japanese 6entle-
/ man for such occasions, except that
! the. upper cloak was red with d shade
! OF yellow running through 1t, the
| patterns embroidered on IL repre-
| sruEing mandarin ducks. The ha ka
| silk. with patterns of butterflies
| white the obi. or belt, was of black
! leather decorated with carved stones.
TIE brides costume was far more
! elaborate. The chief garment, OF Kara :
! giurt: was a dazzling kimono of scarlet
and purple silk. with the chrysanthe-
mum: crest in white embroidered on 1t.
! The mo- or skirt, was another piece of
artistic weaving. being of white SILK
handsomely embroidered. The uwagi
or outer dress, WAS Of purple silk deco
) rated with designs of pine trees and
| tortoises. symbols of long life. A long
! rohe. known to Japanese as the uchi-
! giuu, Snd the itsutzuginu or fifth dress
was, + rich silk handsomely embroid-
/ cred.
(! In she case Of the prince, th.
| hakama. which formed a train. were
of purple silk.
!. The bride carried fan OF gildeC
/ wood o5l which appeared paintings ot
flowers Of all colors Accompanying
| the regent were the scepter ane
crown. The shrine itself was deco
rated with offerings of fruit ant
chrysanthemums.
| Public Rite Delayed,
TIL" ceremony was comparative1,
| simple, being compa rable to a civ
We ding in Christian cnuntr'~-
cording to Japanese studc an.
official public celebration had beer
postponed until later in the year
owing to the country's mournins @
The public ceremonial will include {
great banquet attended by court of.
| fcials and diplomats
Elaborate precautions were tal5er
TO guard against any untoward Incl.
dent. Ten thousand police and sol.
'lers lined the routes taken by the
bride and bridegroom. who approach
ssu the paiace by separate thorough.
fares The crowds were well mar.
| Shaled and orderly. however. and the
prince regents progress was mark 90
hy rolling waves Of "banzais" III.
/ Japanese greeting
The cavalcade Of the prince reeen,
10 the palace was Il dazzling spec.
taele. a mounted contingent of the
IMPERIAL hodyguard escorted the pro.
cession, their brilliant red and sol,
| uniforms adding bright color to the
! scene
After the wedding luncheon tht
royal couple led triumphal process,
sion from the imperial palace to Aka
saka, the detached palace when ha.
| been appointed their temporary resi-.
| dence.
Tuesday the prince regent and his
bride Will receive the chiefs of the
dlpiomatie corps and their wives. To.
morrow the royal couple will visit
! the emperor and the empress at Nm.
maZu and report their wedding.
| Ihey also Will visit ISo, to worship
be-ore and announce their wedding te
the emperor Jimmu. and go to fa.
| nlada province to worship at ~.
tomb of the Emperor Momoyama.