Many typhoon victims unable to watch enthronement due to clean-up

So? Really now, in the bigger picture people's lives mean a hell of a lot more than the enthronement ceremony and I would be willing to bet the Emperor wouldn't care one bit either!

The money spent on the event would be better served on the people and the cleanup

You are from a different era if watching an enthronement or state performed ceremony brings “joy to your heart”.

Hoping the ceremony brings cheer to the world???

With all due respect... many are hungry, in poverty, displaced, and at war

continue the 2000-year-old tradition.

The ceremony is actually a Meiji and Taisho Era reimagining of Heian traditions. It is not ancient. In the same way that the castle at Disneyland is not really from the Middle Ages.

Would care one bit either, meaning if they watched or not! And more than likely would care MORE about how they are getting along, and if the government is doing everything in it's power to assist them in getting back on their feet again!

because the official priority was the ceremony not the victims...

26000 police officers , they could help the victims however it was not the order ...

Oh what a pity! I'm sure they have more important things to worry about than some outdated ceremonial enthronement that doesn't affect their daily lives whatsoever.

16.3 billion tensor t on a religious ceremony that violates the constitution instead of to help people affected by the typhoon. If the emperor really cared about the people, he would have forced a smaller, less costly ceremony.

Look at them throwing their hands up in worship.. is this Japan or North Korea? The two countries are more alike than many would admit.

You are from a different era if watching an enthronement or state performed ceremony brings “joy to your heart”.

The women in the photo are certainly from a different era from me. I don't begrudge them their joy.

A couple of days ago there was some aging 'boy band' up in Nagano shaking hands and while their handlers handed out bowls of curry. The next generation down (middle aged women) were taking a break from their work to experience their joy. Not my cuppa either, but to each their own.

I am confident the emperor and empress will soon be visiting the evacuation centres to do their bit of face-to-face.

Wish I could get away and do mine.

thepersoniamnowToday  07:38 am JST

With all due respect... many are hungry, in poverty, displaced, and at war

Big contrast indeed. if it was me I will make 1 min of silence to give a compassion thought for the suffering as the emperor have the power to make peace .

Sorry but Perhaps they do not have the same compassion definition than you.

Seth MToday  09:45 am JST

The good news is that the 21st typhoon of this year seems to be diverting its course away from the mainlands of Japan. Thank god.

No , thanks to the emperor. it seems that he shacked the woody spoon yesterday for us.

I am curious of the viewership rating s of the enthronement vs Japan/South Africa rugby match.

Real life / world problems vs a facade of a royal family?

I'd think the problems would be a bit more important to everyday people. Commoners like us.........

Maybe the watching of tv is not the priority....

The good news is that the 21st typhoon of this year seems to be diverting its course away from the mainlands of Japan. Thank god.

If it's any consolation, many non-victims were also unable to watch the enthronement due to apathy.

Look, it’s not like they could have seen this typhoon coming and the damage it caused. They also couldn’t suddenly tell hundreds of foreign dignitaries not to come, it was not feasible.

Now about the cost, that is another topic. It should have been much less costly. As mentioned in another article the last time they had this ceremony Japan was at the peak of the bubble economy, so they felt flush and wanted to show it. But this is a different time.

So, where’s Abe and his promise to do everything possible to help these people?

In light of recent events, would it not been better to postpone this ceremony? some of the above, and previous comments have moaned about the cost to the tax payer, and its inconvenient timing.

busy by the evacuation, they still have time to make a BANZAI front of TV!

Indoctrination?

Banzai to the new emperor and the old PM :)

@Heckleberry..... Banzai is not in "worship", and it would be nice for once, (I know it's a pipe dream on my part) for people to understand a bit more about Japanese culture and history before making snide comments like this at a time that is supposed to be, in celebration, of the new Emperor.

Banzai is the same as saying "Hurrah" or something similar in other languages or cultures! Giving the 3 cheers of congratulations.

"Banzai is believed to bring the Japanese good luck. It is light of heart in the Japanese people and cheered when the people are moved by emotion."

It is an ancient saying, and only those that would look to criticize or negatively view the proceedings would say something like you have here!

http://banzaiskydiver.com/banzai/

Given that there is always suffering in the world somewhere- there should never be any joy? I don’t understand this kind of logic.

I agree.

Like a story about not being to watch it on TV vs actually getting a real live invitation to the actual ceremony since it is a public event and paid for by public funds. Nope.

ThepersonIamnow: My thoughts are that the ladies pictured are from a different time and I do hope the ceremony brings some joy to their life.

On the other hand, the cost of the event is excessive considering there are some people in Japan having a very hard time making ends meet.

There are also others attending from other nations where the citizens are not doing well either.

The world is made up of the “elite” and the masses. It has always been and likely will always be so.

I will be the first to praise someone who forgoes this and gives proceeds to charity.

@thepersoniamnow: Hoping the ceremony brings cheer to the world??? 

With all due respect... many are hungry, in poverty, displaced, and at war

Given that there is always suffering in the world somewhere- there should never be any joy? I don’t understand this kind of logic.

There's a reason why YouTube is made.

If you couldn’t watch because your cable tv line is down, learn how to put up an outdoor tv antenna.

Big shocker

It’s really nice to continue the 2000-year-old tradition. The money spent on the ceremony will not be wasted. It should stimulate the local economy .