The main part of the Daijosai thanksgiving ceremony, a key rite in the Imperial succession, began Thursday evening at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, following a number of related ceremonies earlier on the same day.
The Daijosai is an important rite that emperors perform only once during their reign. Its centerpiece, Daijokyu-no-Gi, began at around 6:30 p.m. and was to continue through Friday morning in the Daijokyu building in the East Gardens of the Imperial Palace.
A ceremony was held in Tokyo on Thursday morning to report that the Daijosai ceremony would take place. The grand master of the Rituals Division, the body responsible for the ritual ceremonies of the Imperial family, recited a prayer at the Imperial Palace Sanctuaries.
Other related ceremonies also took place at Ise Jingu shrine in Ise, Mie Prefecture. Sayako Kuroda, the Emperor's younger sister and chief priest of the shrine, offered such gifts as rice, mochi, sake and abalone in the shrine's Geku sanctuary at 4 a.m., and in the Naiku sanctuary at 11 a.m.
The main ceremony of the Daijosai began in the Yukiden hall in the east of the Daijokyu building, and was also to be held from 12:30 a.m. Friday at the Sukiden hall in the west.
During the rite, the Emperor was to offer food made from new crops to the gods and pray for abundant harvests and peace for the nation and the public.
The Empress was also to attend the ceremony. Crown Prince Akishino and Crown Princess Kiko, among other Imperial family members, were scheduled to appear in traditional garb.
The leaders of the three branches of government, including Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Diet members and representatives of various fields, were among the about 520 people scheduled to attend the ceremony.
Read more from The Japan News at https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/
