Arab News Japan

TOKYO: Japanese gathered in front of the Imperial Palace to witness the departure of Emperor Naruhito’s procession to attend the opening session of the Diet on Monday.

The Imperial convoy of four police cars and four motorcyclists moved past the moat of the Imperial Palace to head towards the Diet located less than a kilometer away. A few policemen, in ceremonial clothes, told the onlookers they could not move during the passage of the convoy.

In the second car of the convoy, which was adorned with the flag of the imperial chrysanthemum, Emperor Naruhito greeted the crowd, who responded warmly.

Since the Coronavirus crisis, public appearances by the Emperor have become rare and large-scale events have been canceled.

The official representative of the Japanese state has only a few ceremonial roles defined by Article 6 of the Japanese Constitution, including attending the opening and closing sessions of the Japanese parliament and appointing the new prime minister and judges of the Supreme Court.