Japan's "Chrysanthemum Throne" has a new Emperor!

Trump sent Elaine Chao as the US representative.

Rofl!

Why weren't Harry and Meghan invited?

Isn't his wife supposed to be mentally ill?

She had a nervous breakdown or something, a few years ago.

Prince Charles attended the ceremony...

Charles is looking quite dapper...

Only men can be emperors.

Sorry!

“President Donald Trump has congratulated Japanese Emperor Naruhito on his enthronement.”

You just know Trump was sitting on HIS THRONE when he Tweeted his message with those soiled fingers.

Send Elaine Chao! She's Japanese.

Chinese, Japanese, dirty knees, look at these!

I'm very much looking forward to Empress Masako's next attempt to kick over the traces.

"Congrads to Emperor Hirohito of Japan, who's country by the way still owes us a lot of money for their defence! "

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She has crazy eyes at R13.

She has sad eyes.

What's the new era called?

His enthronement marked the end of the Heisei era of Akihito and the inception of the Reiwa era.

The emperor never asked me if I were okay.

Prince Charles was heard to be singing "It's My Turn" during the ceremony.

Masako has experienced several episodes of severe depression. Since the marriage, this Harvard-educated professional woman has been treated very poorly by the strict, authoritarian royal staff behind the Chrysanthemum Throne, who belittled her when she was unable to give birth to a male. In comparison to Kate Middleton, Masako has lived in a hellish world of complete control.

A new Mikado? What happened to the old one?

When he was attending college at Oxford, he had a poster of Brooke Shields on his dorm room wall.

Asians are not into other asians, R21.

I feel very sorry for Masako. This intelligent and capable woman gave up her entire life for a less-than-glamorous existence of pomp and enormous duty and was treated so harshly for things that are outside her control. Of course she's depressed! Her kimonos are beautiful, though

[quote] I feel very sorry for Masako. This intelligent and capable woman gave up her entire life for a less-than-glamorous existence of pomp and enormous duty and was treated so harshly for things that are outside her control. Of course she's depressed!

Somehow, I'm guessing that you have no sympathy for Meghan Markle, even though it's the exact same situation.

You're right, R24, but it's not the same situation because MM is a trashy and exploitative person who SAYS that she is suffering - a lot and loudly - but, somehow, fails to convince me.

Bullshit.

[quote]Somehow, I'm guessing that you have no sympathy for Meghan Markle, even though it's the exact same situation.

Their situations are so radically different that there is no comparison.

The Japanese Imperial Household Agency is a bureaucracy of epic proportions. It controls every aspect of the lives of every member of the imperial family. It's no wonder that some of the women escape by marrying commoners - the only way to be stripped of your title and their control.

"Somehow, I'm guessing that you have no sympathy for Meghan Markle, even though it's the exact same situation. "

Masako's family pressured her into marrying the crown prince, she knew it was a bad deal going in, and she was right. Her in-laws and the royal courtiers were worse than she ever could have imagined.

Markle, on the other hand, willingly walked into the full glare of tabloid publicity, hell, she schemed and fought to be there!

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Yes, I care. You wouldn't get this in a republic. The Danish and Bhutanese have it right. That colour is too much on Letizia (is it meant to be cherry blossom)

There seems to be a malign, dedicated and organised group of mentally atypical people, whose sole purpose is to attack any 'black' person who breaks a social barrier.

There are no social barriers for white people, so I understand how disturbing this can be for these individuals. But then, disturbance is all they've ever experienced.

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R48, She was sampling cheeses at a cheese farm in Somerset.

The Lady:

Why are they all wearing sashes, including the wives?

Sash-wearing is a royal thing to do. If the Euro royals do it, then all want to it.

Monkey see, monkey do.

[quote]For some reason, Donald DUMP sent his Secretary of Transportation, sans her turtlenecked husband

Well she is Japanese, or at least looks Japanese.

On the banquiet menu, "sea bream" and abalone.

Ew.

Most people there probably had no idea what the hell they were eating.

Murderous dictator Duterte looks like he has to take a shit.

Why was he even there in the first place?

R56, not everyone exists on a menu of McDonald's.

The guests had to eat off TV trays!?

Nothing on either of those trays at R56, looks edible.

In particular, the little fish on the bottom left with his eyes still in his head - staring at you.

Or the deep fried fish tail fan on the top left.

I can't believe they served that crap to royalty from around the world.

[quote]I can't believe they served that crap to royalty from around the world.

LOL - how utterly parochial of you. You sound like the worst kind of ugly American.

Are you like Kind Cheeto and want a big Mac, fries, and a coke.

Better that than the idiots who served the Japanese prime minister food in a shoe which the majority of people would find disgusting, but is especially socially unacceptable in Japan.

How rude to serve such peasant food to European royalty.

If they can serve vegan and halal dishes, then they should at least serve dishes which would appeal to European sensibilities.

Not everyone wants to eat fish tails and tofu.

R56, I can't tell what the pattern is on the silver. Anyone know?

[quote]If they can serve vegan and halal dishes, then they should at least serve dishes which would appeal to European sensibilities.

Exactly, because no one eats Japanese food in Europe - sushi, yuck, raw fish.

I mean, it's not like you'd expect top tier Japanese food at the enthronement banquet of the emperor or anything.

Sea Bream and Abalone are not exactly "top tier," R64.

All I see are a lot of finger foods on a tv dinner tray.

[quote]All I see are a lot of finger foods on a tv dinner tray.

Not all dining experiences are going to be All-you-can-eat buffets at Golden Coral or mountains of food at TGIFridays, r65.

Deets re: pic at r56:

Highlights:

Long version:

Lady in white:

A sad looking Princess:

Wow, is this real hair or wigs?

Elaine C. is half-Japanese from the husband’ side.

This addled brain fucktard sends congratulations to kings, emperors and dictators while withholding condolences for a man who served and bled for his country or for the newly elected leader of our nearest neighbor and largest trading partner.

Fuck kings, fuck emperors and continue the revolution. It clearly needs the finishing touches of modern technology.

Poor Masako.

This is the 21st century we've been keeping track and we still have ridiculous shit like this? The Amazon burns for the silk robes of China.

We'll only evolve forward as a species when we finally understand what royalty is....and it doesn't bleed and isn't sitting on some cloud throne.

They will gasp for air like the rest of us stupid fools upholding some 'tradition' of power so we can continue to be doormats.

Poor Masako? WTF is wrong with you, R75, when you have pity for someone clearly in control? A breakdown? Sure, but probably treated well by the world's best doctors.

I wonder what would happen to actually poor you if you had a similar breakdown?

Glorifying royalty in this day and age is beneath contempt.

I include the stans for H&M in that statement whilst reviling the I'm nottas attacking them in some show of perverse loyalty to a tradition and family of pirates, psychos and pedophiles that consider you, a fellow human being, as beneath them.

Fools, all of you who do this. Utter and absolute fools. Look away from the shiny costumes and save your own damn selves before it's too late.

Yeah well, r67, your link still doesn't explain why the palace serves guests on school lunch trays.

I’m sure Charles must be seething and bitter inside that another king/emperor has been crowned because their parent retired and abdicated in favor of their son. At that gathering, Felipe of Spain, Willem-Alexander of Netherlands, Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg, Philippe of Belgium, Jigme Khesar of Bhutan and now, Naruhito of Japan were allcrowned because their parents had the sense and decency to step aside in their old age and let their sons rule while still relatively young.

Jeez, how many layered kimonos is the princess wearing at R71? Seven or eight?

I hope they have the A/C on high!

"I’m sure Charles must be seething and bitter inside that another king/emperor has been crowned because their parent retired and abdicated in favor of their son."

Yep!

But that doesn't mean Elizabeth is wrong to hang onto the throne. As soon as she dies or abdicates the anti-monarchist knives come out, and Charles will have to defend the institution of monarchy from the weak position of being universally disliked.

[quote] R40: King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium.

King Philippe Is officially “King of the Belgians”, not ‘King of Belgium”. I think it is interesting how they style themselves. I’ll bet there is an interesting story about this title.

Likewise, the title was “King in Prussia”, until 1772. Thereafter, it was “King of Prussia”. That had to do with the oddity of Prussia’s structure. Part was within the Holy Roman Empire and part was outside it. It was a collection of German lands that had all come to be governed by the same person, but not via the same means. Via different marriages or inheritances, different conquests, different alliances, etc.

[quote] I’m sure Charles must be seething and bitter inside that another king/emperor has been crowned because their parent retired and abdicated in favor of their son. At that gathering, Felipe of Spain, Willem-Alexander of Netherlands, Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg, Philippe of Belgium, Jigme Khesar of Bhutan and now, Naruhito of Japan were allcrowned because their parents had the sense and decency to step aside in their old age and let their sons rule while still relatively young.

Selfish bitch.

Was Chrysanthemum Tran there? Otherwise is literal violence.

[quote] R52: Why are they all wearing sashes, including the wives?

[quote] R53: Sash-wearing is a royal thing to do. If the Euro royals do it, then all want to it...Monkey see, monkey do.

Christmas Moose wore his purple sash as homage to it significance as the Japanese royal color. He went stag, did not bring a date. Any pics?

Can I order a teriyaki burger?

Charles is at this point five years after retirement age in most countries. When the queen dies he should pass the crown right on to William.

Royals are not the enemy anymore, this isn't the 16th Century, the enemies of the people are the leaders of pretend democracies, totalitarian regimes and religious states.

[quote] Charles is at this point five years after retirement age in most countries. When the queen dies he should pass the crown right on to William.

FUCK. THAT.

People do need circuses. If the Japanese Emperor and Empress stay out of the public eye, like Hirohito did, then it does not serve the nation. If they get out there and promote Japanese interests, businesses, charities, etc, then it has its place.

Does anyone know how public the Emperor is?

Masako is going to take her big bloody revenge soon against everyone who did her dirt when she was crown princess--starting with the empress emerita. You heard it here first.

R92, I hope so. I’ve been waiting for this day for years, I’ve assumed she’ll have her shining moment.

The Emperor of Japan does not spend his days attending nursery openings, visiting hospitals or any such activities popular with European royalty.

This was a typical schedule for the previous Emperor:

How does Emperor Akihito while away the hours? He gets up at 6:30 each morning, watches the news on television, and then goes for a walk with Empress Michiko around the Imperial Palace in downtown Tokyo. If the weather is inclement, Akihito drives in his 15-year-old Honda Integra. Reportedly, he obeys all traffic laws even though the roads in the Imperial Compound are closed to other vehicles, and the Emperor is exempt.

The mid-day is filled with official business: greeting foreign ambassadors and royalty, handing out imperial awards, or performing his duties as a Shinto priest. If he has time, the Emperor works on his biological studies. He is a world-class expert on goby fish and has published 38 peer-reviewed scientific papers on the topic.

Sounds utterly boring, R94.

And he had to "retire" from that? Oh, please.

Well, then he sounds like a sponge on the nation. I enjoyed watching “The Last Emperor” about the last Chinese emperor. He was completely segregated from his people, both physically, and culturally. The Japanese royal family sounds like that. A vestigial anachronism. How can that have a future?

I can understand not wanting to cut the ribbon on a new grocery store opening, but a hospital visit, or factory opening: or business boosterism, those things, seem reasonable. Surely less than 5% think he’s a God now, right?

[quote]I can understand not wanting to cut the ribbon on a new grocery store opening, but a hospital visit, or factory opening: or business boosterism, those things, seem reasonable. Surely less than 5% think he’s a God now, righ

While the role of the emperor has always veered between ceremonial and actual rule, the Japanese Constitution imposed on them after WWII pretty much outlined the specific duties required of them. Strangely, I'd argue that it should have been the British who outlined the role post-WWII, as having the most relevant experience and understanding.

The function seems to be a combination of needing the Emperor post-WWII to serve as a figurehead and the fear that any real responsibilities could turn Japan back into a military power. What's clear is that the role does NOT exceed is specifically articulated constitutional mandate - if it's not included among the duties, it's not performed.

All duties are performed at the behest of the Cabinet. Given that the government doesn't have the time to entertain most requests to wheel out the Emperor, he's not going to be doing a lot of hospital visits and such.

The British royal family would be a LOT better off, if they raised their kids to excel in music and/or science, like the Japanese royal family does.

Although I don't think there was much hope of making a scientist out of Harry or Andrew.