Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-02-07

heir apparent, to represent the throne
in the procession and also at the
burial
The night was cold and clear. There
was no snow, but a million loyal SUD
jects shivered along the route. Inc
most impressive silence was broken
only by the dirges of the bands. the
booming Of cannon and the bugiers
sounding of taps"
Two Hours to Pass.
The procession required two hours
to pass a given point. the catafalque
arriving at the funeral pavilion az
$3.50 o'clock and the Shinto ceremonies
beginning shortly afterward.
All photographs and motion pictures
OF the spectacle were taken opposite
the Toxic Club, where great numbers
| of arc lights illuminated the street.
Emperor Hirohito and other mem
bers of the royal family arrived at
the gardens o'clock and awaited the
arrival Of the catafa1que in special
| imperial pavilion.
| Diplomats, prominent Japanese and
a group of prominent foreigners ar
| rived just ahead of the royal party.
Special signals of red and green lights
announced the arrival of the cata-
| falque.
1t was estimated more than 5000
persons gathered in the gardens, but
only a small number of these actually
observed the ceremonies. AT a given
signal, the flashing of a red light, all
spectators removed their coats. such
being the mark of imperial respect.
Great crowds lining the funeral
| route caused numerous brushes In
which many received minor injuries.
l11 hnd 20 q
were filled with sick and injured, and
there We're numerous collapses as the
result Of the all-day vigil.
| Inc ceremonies at the funeral pa
V1llon were mostly the Shinto rites.
The Emperor was dressed In the uni
| form OF generaliSSimo. The Empress
Dowager and other women of the no
bility were dressed in black mourning
gowns for foreign design.
After the Shinto rites had been per-
| formed. Premier Wakatsuki and
Household Minister Ichiki read funeral
| addresses. Then all the attendants
| bowed and worshiped the spirit of the
| the Emperor.
Emperor Hirohito advanced drew
curtains before the casket, prayed and
| presented sacred sakaki trees. while
| court musicians played mournful
urges on reed instruments. The diplo-
mats then advanced, bowed and
sprlnkled incense and retired. The
casket was placed in a palanquin car
ried by 100 special pallbearers, 48 of
! these actually serving and the others
relieving them from time to time.
Pallbearers Feature.
The pallbearers were a particular
feature OF the obsequies. Dressed in
robes like those which have bao,, ,,,orx,
at similar ceremonies for more than
1000 years. they formed a picturesque
| setting for the last solemn ritual.
These men are from the Vase district.
near kyoto, and they came from fami.
| lies which for centuries have carried
| EmperorS TO their tombs. They are
trained from infancy as royal pail.
| bearers and special household depart-
ment funds are given to them each
| year.
The funeral train of nine coaches
left the specially built station at Shin.
lukf Gardens shortly after midnight.
Prince Chichibu and other prominent
| persons accompanying the body to
Asakawa burial ground % miles dis.
tant. The train was to arrive at 1895
am, the body to be carried to the
| tomb and lowered into the sepulcher
before dawn. No foreigners, either
| newspaper correspondents or others.
were permitted to journey to Asa
kawa, the final rites being the most
| sacred.
| The course to Asakawa was lined
with police and troops.
The funeral cost about $500. 900
yen, about $2,250,000 and was the
costl1est ceremony of it's kind in the
| history Of Japan.