State funeral Death and funeral of Hirohito

1 state funeral

1.1 ceremony @ imperial palace
1.2 funeral procession through tokyo
1.3 ceremonies @ shinjuku gyoen garden

1.3.1 palanquin procession
1.3.2 shinto ceremony
1.3.3 state ceremony


1.4 ceremony @ imperial graveyard

state funeral

on friday, february 24, emperor shōwa s state funeral held, , unlike of predecessor, formal not conducted in strictly shinto manner. funeral designed both tribute late emperor , showcase peaceful, affluent society japan had developed during hirohito s reign.

unlike emperor taisho s funeral 62 years earlier, there no ceremonious parade of officials dressed in military uniforms , far fewer of shinto rituals used @ time glorify emperor near-deity. these changes meant highlight shōwa tennō s funeral first of emperor under postwar democratic constitution, , first imperial funeral held in daylight.

the delay of 48 days between death , funeral same previous emperor, , allowed time numerous ceremonies leading funeral. late emperor s body lay in 3 coffins; personal items such books , stationery placed them.

the weather on day of funeral cold, there grey sky drenched tokyo steady rain.

ceremony @ imperial palace

the ceremonies began @ 7:30 a.m. when emperor akihito conducted private ceremony of farewell father in imperial palace.

funeral procession through tokyo

at 9:35 a.m., black motor hearse carrying body of shōwa tennō left imperial palace 2-mile-long drive shinjuku gyoen garden, shinto , state ceremonies held. high, piercing notes of reeds broke silence hearse bearing emperor s coffin drove on stone bridge , out through imperial palace gates. air shook sound of cannon , brass band played dirge composed funeral of shōwa tennō s great-grandmother in late 19th century.

the motor hearse accompanied procession of 60 cars. route of cortege through tokyo lined estimated 800,000 spectators , 32,000 special police, had been mobilized guard against potential terrorist attacks.

the path of funeral procession passed national diet, democratic core of modern japan; , national stadium, emperor opened 1964 summer olympics , heralded japan s postwar re-emergence.

ceremonies @ shinjuku gyoen garden

the 40-minute procession, accompanied brass band, ended when pulled shinjuku gyoen garden, until 1949 reserved use of imperial family , 1 of tokyo s popular parks.

at shinjuku gyoen garden, funeral ceremonies shōwa tennō conducted in sojoden, specially constructed funeral hall. funeral hall constructed of japanese cypress , held bamboo nails in keeping ancient imperial tradition.

the official guests seated in 2 white tents located in front of funeral hall. because of low temperatures, many guests used chemical hand-warmers , wool blankets keep warm 3-hour shinto , state ceremonies progressed.

palanquin procession

the shōwa tennō s coffin transferred palanquin made of cypress wood painted black lacquer. attendants clad in long gray robes, narrow tall black hats , black outsized wooden sandals, bearing white , yellow banners, shields , signs of sun , moon, led 225-member procession. musicians played gagaku, atonal court music. next came gray-robed attendants carrying 2 sacred sakaki trees draped cloth streamers , ceremonial boxes of food , silk cloths offered spirit of late emperor.

in nine-minute procession, 51 members of imperial household agency, clad in traditional gray shinto costumes, carried 1.5 ton sokaren (imperial palanquin) containing 3-layered coffin of shōwa tennō funeral hall, walked aisle between white tents domestic , foreign dignataries.

behind coffin walked chamberlain dressed in white, carried platter pair of white shoes tradition says deceased monarch wear heaven. flutes, pipes , occasional drum beat sounded procession entered ceremonial grounds. new emperor, akihito, , empress michiko, carrying own large umbrellas, followed palanquin other family members.

the procession passed through small wooden torii gate, shinto symbol marking entrance sacred space, , filed sojoden.

shinto ceremony

the events in sojoden divided religious sojoden no gi ceremony, followed state taiso no rei ceremony.

when procession entered funeral hall, shinto portion of funeral began , black curtain partition drawn closed. opened reveal centuries-old ceremony. accompaniment of chanting, officials approached altar of emperor, holding aloft wooden trays of sea bream, wild birds, kelp, seaweed, mountain potatoes, melons , other delicacies. foods, silk cloths, offered spirit of late emperor. chief of ceremony, childhood classmate , attendant of hirohito, delivered address, followed emperor akihito.

the funeral continued black curtain closed, signalling end of shinto portion of funeral.

state ceremony

as curtain parted again, japan s chief cabinet secretary opened state portion of funeral. @ noon, called minute of silence throughout japan. prime minister takeshita delivered short eulogy, in said reign of late emperor remembered eventful , tumultuous times, including second world war , eventual reconstruction of japan. 1 one, foreign dignitaries approached altar , paid respects. merely inclined heads; bowed slightly.

ceremony @ imperial graveyard

emperor shōwa s tomb in musashi imperial graveyard, hachiōji, tokyo

following state ceremony, shōwa tennō s coffin taken musashi imperial graveyard in suburban city of hachiōji burial. @ emperor taishō s funeral in 1927, trip musashi imperial graveyard carried out 3-hour procession, @ shōwa tennō s funeral, trip made motor hearse , cut 40 minutes. several hours of ceremonies followed there, until late emperor laid rest @ nightfall, traditional time bury emperors.