2019 Japanese imperial transition: Difference between revisions

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The '''2019 Japanese imperial transition''' occurred on 30 April 2019 when the then 85-year-old [[Akihito|Emperor Akihito]] of [[Japan]] [[Abdication|abdicated]] from the [[Chrysanthemum Throne]] after reigning for 30 years,<ref>{{cite web |title=Japan's emperor thanks country, prays for peace before abdication |url=https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/Japan-s-Reiwa-era/Japan-s-emperor-thanks-country-prays-for-peace-before-abdication |website=Nikkei Asian Review |access-date=30 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190430112220/https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/Japan-s-Reiwa-era/Japan-s-emperor-thanks-country-prays-for-peace-before-abdication |archive-date=30 April 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> becoming the first [[Emperor of Japan]] to do so since [[Emperor Kōkaku]] in 1817. This marked the end of the [[Heisei era]] and the inception of the [[Reiwa era]], and saw numerous festivities leading up to the accession of his eldest son and successor, Emperor [[Naruhito]].<ref>Jiji, Kyodo, [https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2017/12/05/national/politics-diplomacy/emperor-akihitos-abdication-may-push-back-timing-constitutional-reform/#.Wik59oUz23U "Emperor Akihito's abdication may push back timing of constitutional reform"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180807155802/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2017/12/05/national/politics-diplomacy/emperor-akihitos-abdication-may-push-back-timing-constitutional-reform/#.Wik59oUz23U |date=7 August 2018 }} ''[[The Japan Times]]'', 5 January 2017.</ref> The [[Enthronement of the Japanese emperor|Enthronement Ceremony]] took place on 22 October 2019.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics-Economy/Policy-Politics/Enthronement-ceremony-for-Japan-s-next-emperor-seen-in-fall-2019|title=Enthronement ceremony for Japan's next emperor seen in fall 2019- Nikkei Asian Review|website=Asia.nikkei.com|access-date=6 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171223001650/https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics-Economy/Policy-Politics/Enthronement-ceremony-for-Japan-s-next-emperor-seen-in-fall-2019|archive-date=23 December 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> Akihito's younger son, [[Fumihito, Crown Prince of Japan|Prince Akishino]], is his brother's [[heir presumptive]]. The ceremony cost 16.6 &nbsp;billion Yenyen.<ref name="nippon.com 2019">{{cite web | title=Japan to Spend Record ¥16.6 Billion on Coronation of New Emperor | website=nippon.com | date=25 April 2019 | url=https://www.nippon.com/en/japan-topics/c06107/japan-to-spend-record-¥16-6-billion-on-coronation-of-new-emperor.html | access-date=11 January 2023}}</ref>

== Background ==

{{quote box

| quote = The practice in the Imperial Family has been that the death of the Emperor called for events of heavy mourning, continuing every day for two months, followed by funeral events which continue for one year. These various events occur simultaneously with events related to the new era, placing a very heavy strain on those involved in the events, in particular, the family left behind. It occurs to me from time to time to wonder whether it is possible to prevent such a situation.<ref name=EmperorSpeech />

| quote = When the Emperor has ill health and his condition becomes serious, I am concerned that, as we have seen in the past, society comes to a standstill and people's lives are impacted in various ways. The practice in the Imperial Family has been that the death of the Emperor called for events of heavy mourning, continuing every day for two months, followed by funeral events which continue for one year.

These various events occur simultaneously with events related to the new era, placing a very heavy strain on those involved in the events, in particular, the family left behind. It occurs to me from time to time to wonder whether it is possible to prevent such a situation.<ref name=EmperorSpeech />

| source = Emperor Akihito, 2016

| align = right

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== Preparations for the imperial transition (2017–2019) ==

[[File:Yoshihide Suga announcing new imperial era Reiwa 2 (cropped).jpg|thumb|[[Chief Cabinet Secretary]] [[Yoshihide Suga]] announces the new Imperial era "Reiwa" to the press]]

The committee met for the first time in January 2018, and the following month announced that a plan called a "basic policy statement," would be released on 3 April.<ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2018/04/e64cce3b9a66-govt-approves-plan-for-imperial-succession-rites-next-year.html|title=Basic plan for Japan's imperial succession rites in 2019 approved by gov't|first=KYODO|last=NEWS|access-date=4 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180405090635/https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2018/04/e64cce3b9a66-govt-approves-plan-for-imperial-succession-rites-next-year.html|archive-date=5 April 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> Official farewell celebrations began with a 30th Jubilee ceremony on 12 February 2019, a delay which would avoid any implication of a celebration of the death of the Emperor Shōwa on 7 January.<ref name="japantimes.co.jp">{{cite web|url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2018/02/15/national/government-pencils-february-2019-ceremony-mark-emperors-30-years-chrysanthemum-throne/|title=Government pencils in February 2019 ceremony to mark Emperor's 30 years on the Chrysanthemum Throne|date=15 February 2018|via=Japan Times Online|access-date=18 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180219090320/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2018/02/15/national/government-pencils-february-2019-ceremony-mark-emperors-30-years-chrysanthemum-throne/|archive-date=19 February 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Calendars ===

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== Imperial transition ==

[[File:退位礼正殿の儀―平成31年4月30日.webm|thumb|Livestreamed video of the abdication ceremony]]

On 30 April 2019, the Emperor formally announced his formal abdication during a ceremony at the [[Tokyo Imperial Palace]].<ref>{{cite news |date=30 April 2019 |title=Japan's Emperor Akihito abdicates |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-48020703 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190501003243/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-48020703 |archive-date=1 May 2019 |access-date=1 May 2019 |work=BBC News}}</ref> Akihito formally ceased to be emperor at midnight [[Japan Standard Time|JST]] on the night between 30 April and 1 May, which heralded the beginning of the Reiwa era.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |last=McCurry |first=Justin |date=2019-05-01 |title=Japan welcomes new emperor Naruhito as Reiwa era begins |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/may/01/japan-reiwa-naruhito-emperor |access-date=2024-12-05 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> He received the title of {{Nihongo|Jōkō|上皇|extra=Emperor Emeritus}}, an abbreviation of {{Nihongo|[[Daijō Tennō]]|太上天皇}}, upon abdicating, and his wife, the Empress, became {{Nihongo|Jōkōgō|上皇后|extra=Empress Emerita}}.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Archived copy |url=http://the-japan-news.com/news/article/0004115774 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171208190111/http://the-japan-news.com/news/article/0004115774 |archive-date=8 December 2017 |access-date=8 December 2017}}</ref> The formal accession ceremony of Emperor Naruhito took place the following morning.<ref name=":1" />

=== Golden Week, 2019 ===

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== See also ==

{{Commons category|Imperial transition of Japan in 2019}}

* [[Chrysanthemum taboo]]

* [[Daijō Tennō]] (retired Emperor)

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[[Category:Abdication]]

[[Category:April 2019 events in Japan]]

[[Category:Imperial House of Japan]]

[[Category:2019 in Japanese politics]]