No.96 Ceremony of the Enthronement of His Majesty the Emperor

This year, a new Emperor ascended the throne, and the era name changed from Heisei to Reiwa. The "Ceremony of Accession" is a state act based on the constitution, and a series of events consists of five rituals.

Ceremony of Succession of the Sword and the Imperial Regalia
The ceremony to inherit the two of the three sacred treasures representing the authority of the Emperor (mirror, jewel, sword), specifically the jewel and the sword, was held on May 1, 2019.
Ceremony of Audience After Ascension
The ceremony in which the new emperor first addresses the Prime Minister and others was held on the same day.
Ceremony of the Enthronement
This was a declaration of the enthronement both domestically and internationally, held on October 22, 2019, with the attendance of foreign heads of state and leaders, as well as representatives from within the country. In the Pine Room of the Imperial Palace, the Emperor ascended to the "Takamikura" and the Empress to the "Michodai," where His Majesty the Emperor delivered a speech, the Prime Minister read a congratulatory message, and all attendees joined in a chant of "Banzai" three times.
Ritual of Banquet
The Imperial Banquet held to entertain domestic and foreign guests who attended the Ceremony of the Enthronement was held in four parts, including October 22, 2019.
Ceremony of Celebration
A parade will be held from the Imperial Palace to the Akasaka Imperial Residence using a state car, and this time it was conducted on November 10, 2019, with a newly designed open car.

Thus, a series of ceremonies related to the enthronement have been successfully completed. The Ceremony of Enthronement in the State Hall is the central ritual of the enthronement, and October 22, 2019, became a special holiday for the people to express their congratulations, with 1,999 representatives from 191 countries and regions in attendance.
By the way, the ceremony of the enthronement took place on this day amidst heavy rain from the morning. Although Typhoon No. 20, which was approaching the Japanese archipelago, had transformed into an extratropical cyclone by the evening of the previous day, it still maintained a strong force as it moved northward off the coast of Chiba Prefecture.
As I waited for the television broadcast starting at 1 PM, I recalled the sight of the royal family heading to the Kashikodokoro with their parasols in the morning, and the image of His Majesty the Emperor crossing the outer corridor in the rain for preparations, worrying about the weather.
However, just a few minutes before the ceremony began, it suddenly became quiet outside the house. When I went outside to see what was happening, I was surprised to find blue skies peeking through! It was as if it were celebrating the enthronement ceremony. Even more astonishing was that after the approximately 30-minute ceremony ended, the clear skies closed up, and it started to rain again.
I have heard that this phenomenon occurred not only above Inagi City but also over a wide area of Eastern Japan. Additionally, many photos of a large rainbow over the Imperial Palace were posted on social media. It is truly a mysterious occurrence, but is it just a coincidence, or is there something more...
In the recent words of His Majesty the Emperor, he declared the succession to the throne in accordance with the Constitution and the Imperial House Law, reflecting deeply on the fact that His Majesty the Emperor Emeritus has always wished for the happiness of the people and the peace of the world. He also expressed his own similar wishes and pledged to fulfill his duties as a symbol of the unity of Japan and the Japanese people, earnestly hoping that our country will achieve further development and contribute to friendship and peace in the international community, as well as to the welfare and prosperity of humanity.
While listening to Your Majesty's words, I have renewed my feelings of wishing for the development and safety of Inagi City within the scope of my responsibilities.