Naruhito ascended the throne and Japan opened a new imperial era

The new Japanese Emperor Naruhito is officially on the throne of the chrysanthemum on Wednesdayand thus opened a new imperial era at a solemn ceremony held the day after his father's abdication, the first in two centuries.

Naruhito was officially emperor since the first minute of the day, but the process was formalized by inheriting sacred objects that confer legitimacy on the Japanese monarch.

The new emperor arrived at the ceremony clad in a suit cut to the west and a thick gold chain, accompanied by male members of his family, including his brother, the Prince Fumihito Akishino.

The ceremony took place on the first day of the new imperial era, the Reiwa era ("Beautiful Harmony"), which will spread under the reign of Naruhito.

In the pine room, in the Japanese imperial palace, Naruhito, 59, was introduced to sacred objects left the day before by his father Akihito, including a sword and a jewel.as well as a real seal.

Shortly after, Empress Masako arrived at the palace with a spectacular diamond-covered tiara to join the emperor.

In his first speech to the nation, Naruhito has sworn "to act according to the Constitution … and to always guide my thoughts towards the people and to be with him".

It is only on October 22 that Naruhito and the empress will appear dressed in traditional Japanese clothing elaborated for a ceremony at the palace, before a parade in the capital.

The new emperor will receive greetings from the first foreign heads of state at the end of May, including US President Donald Trump.

Educated at Oxford, Naruhito has the difficult task of perpetuating his father's legacy and bringing the Japanese crown closer to the people, without renouncing the centuries-old traditions badociated with the chrysanthemum throne.

Like his father, Naruhito was warned of the need to remember "correctly" the period of the Second World War, without ignoring the Japanese militarism of the first half of the twentieth century..

He also spoke of the need to modernize the royal family. By marrying Masako (who leaves behind a promising career as a diplomat), Naruhito pledges to defend her "at all costs".

However, it has struggled to adapt to the life of the royal palace, including the extraordinary pressure experienced by an heir.

Naruhito and Masako have a daughter, Aiko, 17, who can not inherit the throne because she is a woman.

Naruhito, meanwhile, ascended the throne in circumstances very different from those that existed when his father became emperor in 1989.

At the time, Japan was one of the largest economic powers in the world and its technological power was the envy of all the industrialized countries of the world, with a stock market that showed results that were difficult to match.

But after a "lost decade" after the outbreak of this bubble, Japan is still bogged down in a fight against deflation and a timid growth, while its population has a high average age.

In many rural areas of Japan, depopulation is evident, as young people prefer to live in cities.

On Tuesday afternoon, 85-year-old Akihito closed his reign with a short ten-minute ceremony. Pine Hall (Matsu-no-Ma), considered the most elegant hall of the imperial palace.

In costume, he made a brief speech: "I wholeheartedly express my gratitude to the Japanese people who accepted me as a symbol of the state and supported me", he said referring to its role in the Constitution, in force. since 1947 and in which the emperor has ceased to have a status of demi-god.

In a moment of emotion, he reached out to his wife, Michiko, as she descended from the rostrum for 60 years, and stood motionless for a moment, staring at the audience, before leaving the room that prostrated himself before the 300 guests.

Unlike 1989 (death of Hirohito, also called Emperor Showa), 1926 (death of Emperor Taisho) or 1912 (death of Emperor Meiji), the pbadage from Akihito to Naruhito follows a law exception made to measure.

In mid-2016, the emperor said he wanted to leave the throne because he could no longer exercise "body and mind" because of his age and health condition.

The imperial couple enjoys great respect in their country for its proximity to the citizens. Empress Michiko arouses "great enthusiasm" and has managed to gain affection "for example by shaking hands," said Hideya Kawanishi, a professor at Nagoya University.

"The emperor belongs to the highest spheres, but I feel very close to us, especially because he's always gone to places of natural disasters to meet people directly," Rikia says. Iwasaki, a student gathered in front of the palace.

They now become Empress and Emperor emeritus and yield the imperial palace to Naruhito and his wife Masako, aged 59 and 55 respectively.

By Hiroshi HIYAMA / Karyn NISHIMURA | AFP