Big guest list sees enthronement-related cost rise 30%

All that money for a religious ceremony that violates the constitution. Smh.

gain understanding of the people

I understand that this is a huge waste of taxpayer money that benefits absolutely nobody.

"Amid the economic stagnation, the rituals must be something that can gain understanding of the people and be celebrated by them,

Flood victims are still suffering, some living in shelters and their belongings destroyed. All the dead people are not even buried and just yesterday a new body was found.

saving some 300 million yen for the stage and another 300 million for the venue hall

Do we supposed to feel relieved by that insignificant amount.... With the meager pension, pensioners are dying in droves during the peak summer because they cannot even afford to pay for the electric bills even though they have air conditioners. These are the people who broke their backs that made Japan where it stands now.

Give us a break and be considerate.

The have-nots fund the ‘haves’.

It was the same in feudal times too...

Chip StarToday 06:52 am JST

All that money for a religious ceremony that violates the constitution. Smh.

Not to mention all that lovely overtime pay for coppers who have no crime to fight.

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I Wonder who the 'naysayer' is. Why don't you give us your opinion . Maybe you know more and enlighten us.

@Kurisupisu

these *are*** **feudal times...... and no by any means only in Japan

I'm surprised that so many people have the wrong idea of separation of faith and state. The government is not trying to impose a particular religion on people or curtail freedom of religion through the enthronement ceremonies. Does a newly-elected US President violate Americans’ freedom of religion when he swears in by putting his hand on the Bible?

They should have organized it like a Japanese wedding where all the guests have to give large sums of money for their right to attend.

Lots of these people, are gonna be disappointed watching the ceremony via a monitor and travel all this to watch it on TV, like the vast majority

Do the Hustle....excellent. That is why I turn down invites to weddings. Funerals too actually.

What a joke

There goes our 10% sales tax.

I hope her new position makes Empress Masako shine inwardly as well as outwardly as she seems to in the photo.

After years of difficulty and sacrifice, she deserves to represent her country as fully and as well as she is able - and she is capable of a lot more than she has been allowed to show up to now.

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2,600 guests in total have been invited to four banquets.

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It's reprehensible that the royal palace lacks discernment organizing such a gala event; especially, in face of the stark economic hardships the average Japanese family / person is struggling with ( underscored esp. by the new 10% tax and unprecedented destruction vested upon Japanese these past few weeks)

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The sentiment among the populace will not be favorable toward this new emperors and empress.

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I hope her new position makes Empress Masako shine inwardly as well as outwardly as she seems to in the photo.

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Yes mysteriously she seemed to recover from her chronic esoteric illness prior to the abdication of the former Emperor and Empress.

Wild idea - how about asking these foreign dignitaries to pay for their own accommodation?

PM Abe will be meeting country leaders and making deals that benefit Japan. Exception on the day of enthronement. The total cost and more will most likely be covered by PM Abes' deal making.

Melissa Shimosato: PM Abe will be meeting country leaders and making deals that benefit Japan. ....The total cost and more will most likely be covered by PM Abes' deal making.

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And, you know this, how ?

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Semper fi, I actually read Japan today. PM Abe meeting country leaders and dignitaries leading up to the day of enthronement was in a previous article.

I am not saying the enthronement of the Emperor is just a backdrop for political machintion. But with that many country leaders and dignitaries present. Deals are going to be made.

Typhoon disaster recovery fund? Let them eat cake!!!!

 Deals are going to be made.

Lol!!!!! You clearly haven't been paying attention to the ineptitude that is the abe regime.

Big waste of time, effort and tax payers money. Totally unnecessary too. At least 99% of the population have no interest...

Coulda built a few schools, funded some recovery programs for people who lost their homes in disasters too.

I’m cool with him just doing a youtube video then getting on with it.

That’s at least JPY 16,300,000,000 for this.

As soon as Japanese hear about it, and especially the fact that Japan taxpayers are funding the whole bill (including VIP accommodation), they are indeed outraged.

It’s nice of course to keep some tradition, but there needs to be a reality check as well.

I'm surprised that so many people have the wrong idea of separation of faith and state. The government is not trying to impose a particular religion on people or curtail freedom of religion through the enthronement ceremonies.

These are not the only ways government can violate the separation of faith and state. Here, the government is violating the separation of faith and state by promoting Shintoism by paying for these ceremonies.

Does a newly-elected US President violate Americans’ freedom of religion when he swears in by putting his hand on the Bible?

No, because it's not a requirement for being sworn into office; it's a voluntary custom. When we have our first non-christian president, that person won't have to lay hands on a bible.