The formal ceremony to publicly announce the ascension of Crown Prince Akishino to first in line to the throne, scheduled for April 19, will likely be postponed, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said Friday at his morning press conference.
The government, having declared a state of emergency to contain the spread of the coronavirus, will decide on an appropriate date for the Rikkoshi-no-Rei ceremony, taking into account the current situation in the fight against the pandemic, Suga said.
The spread of the coronavirus has already affected other Imperial succession-related events.
In March, the government canceled the Kyuchu-Kyoen-no-Gi banquets following the crown prince's ascension. It also reduced the number of guests to be invited from 350 to 50 for the Rikkoshi-Senmei-no-Gi, the ceremony in which the Emperor will announce to the public at home and abroad that Akishino was the new crown prince.
Read more from The Japan News at https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/
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