On the 22nd of October 2019, Emperor Naruhito formally proclaimed his enthronement in the Sokui no Rei ceremony at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo. Held in the Matsu-no-ma hall, the event marked the first such rite in the 21st century following his father Akihito's abdication. Naruhito, aged 59, ascended the 6.5-meter Takamikura throne in a rust-colored sokutai robe, reading a proclamation vowing to uphold his role as a symbol of the state. About 2,500 dignitaries from nearly 200 countries attended

Japan’s Emperor Naruhito and his family waved to a crowd of flag-waving New Year’s well-wishers gathered at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo. It was the first time Naruhito’s nephew, Prince Hisahito, attended as he now takes part in adult imperial events and is a possible heir to the Japanese throne. This comes amid rising tensions between China and Japan. Watch the video to find out more. #Japan #TimesNow | TIMES NOW

JUST IN: Japan's Emperor Naruhito ascends to the throne to become the country's 126th emperor. He has vowed to continue the legacy of his father, who abdicated on Tuesday, by bringing the monarchy closer to the people: https://cnn.it/2ZIQ1Dv | CNN