Japan grants half a million pardons to mark enthronement of emperor Naruhito
Source: The Guardian
Petty crimes forgiven ahead of ceremony that completes ascension after father’s abdication in May.
Naruhito has proclaimed himself Japan’s new emperor and vowed to “stand with the people” after performing a series of ancient rituals that culminated in his appearance on the imperial throne alongside his wife, Empress Masako.
Naruhito, who ascended the Chrysanthemum throne in May, following the abdication of his father, Akihito, marked his official enthronement on Tuesday in front of around 2,000 guests, including heads of state and other royals from more than 180 countries.
To mark the enthronement, the government granted pardons to more than half a million people found guilty of petty crimes, such as traffic violations.
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The enthronement had drawn criticism from those who questioned the use of 16 billion yen ($150m) in taxpayers’ money to pay for rituals they believe violate the constitutional separation between state and religion.
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Among the dignitaries attending the ceremony were Prince Charles, the US transportation secretary Elaine Chao, China’s vice president, Wang Qishan, the South Korean prime minister, Lee Nak-yon, and Myanmar’s Aung San Suu Kyi.
Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/oct/22/japan-emperor-naruhito-half-a-million-pardons