Naruhito ascends the throne and begins a new imperial era in Japan

Japan's new emperor Naruhito officially came to the rescue Wednesday Chrysanthemum Throne, and thus opened a new imperial era at a solemn ceremony held the day after the abdication of his father, Akihito, the first for two centuries.

Naruhito had officially been the emperor from the first minute of the daybut the process was formalized today, when the 59-year-old prince inherited sacred objects which confers legitimacy to the Japanese monarch at a ceremony held in the Hall of Pines, in the Japanese Imperial Palace

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 his first speech to the nation, Naruhito he paid tribute to the pacifist legacy and the proximity of the paternal city, who became Emperor Emeritus and promised to stay on the same path.

"Upon reaching the throne, I swear that I will have in mind the course followed by His Majesty the Emperor Emeritus Akihito," said Naruhito, who also pledged to "act in accordance with the Constitution "and to" keep the people always in the spirit and to support it. "

In this way, Naruhito officially became the Emperor number 126 of Japanese history, after being officially surrendered on the eve of the abdication of Akihito, who had announced three years ago in a televised message that he was willing to leave office because of his advanced age and fragile health.

As all today's events took place behind closed doors, the Japanese people will have to wait Saturday for the first public appearance new emperors, when they are expected to salute from the imperial palace.

Throughout the year, Naruhito and Masako will participate in various public events among which stand out a proclamation ceremony with traditional clothing in October, a parade in the streets of Tokyo and banquets to which two thousand foreign dignitaries will be invited.

The ascension on the throne of Naruhito also marks the beginning of a new era of the Japanese calendar, called "Reiwa" (beautiful harmony), after having completed the previous one, "Heisei" (peace), name under which it will also be known . posthumous form Akihito.

Educated in Oxford, Naruhito has to face the difficult task of perpetuating his father's legacy and modernizing the throne. Naruhito and Masako have a daughter, Aiko, 17, who can not inherit the throne to be a woman.