The Emperor reported his abdication to his ancestral deity during a ceremony on Tuesday morning.
The ceremony started shortly after 10 a.m. at the Kashikodokoro Imperial ancestor's shrine, where the sun goddess Amaterasu Omikami, the Imperial family's ancestral deity, is enshrined. Kashikodokoro is one of three Imperial shrines standing together on the grounds of the Imperial Palace in Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo.
Clad in formal Imperial court dress traditionally worn by emperors, the Emperor walked the cloister at the Kashikodokoro sanctuary before entering the Kashikodokoro, where the Emperor worshiped and read a letter to inform the deity of his abdication.
After leaving the Kashikodokoro, the Emperor went on to visit and perform ceremonies at the two other shrines -- the Koreiden, which enshrines past emperors and Imperial family members, and the Shinden, which enshrines a myriad of deities. Following his father, Crown Prince Naruhito visited and worshiped at the three sanctuaries.
The Empress did not attend the ceremonies due to a chronic neck condition.
Crown Princess Masako also did not attend the morning ceremonies, but was standing by for a national ceremony later in the day.
Prince Akishino and his wife Princess Kiko, their daughters Mako and Kako, and other Imperial family members worshiped on the grounds in front of the shrines.
The Emperor is scheduled to attend the national ceremony -- Taiirei-Seiden-no-gi -- for his abdication from 5 p.m.
At midnight Tuesday, the crown prince will succeed his father as the new emperor of Japan, and the Emperor and Empress will become the Emperor Emeritus and Empress Emerita, with the name of era changing from Heisei to Reiwa.
On Wednesday, Kenji-to-Shokei-no-gi, the accession ceremony for the next emperor, Crown Prince Naruhito, to inherit the Imperial Regalia -- the sacred sword and jewels -- and the Privy Seal and the State Seal will be held at the Imperial Palace.
Read more from The Japan News at https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/
