Ride for the ambassador

Here is the "original" article in Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kokyo

"It is the privilege of each new ambassador arriving at the palace to hand in his accreditation to the emperor to be picked up from Tokyo Station either in a limousine or the carriage. Although the carriage is not as comfortable as the modern limousine, most chose the carriage."

Sound strikingly similar to the first draft here? Obviously i got too much free time on my hands rofl.

And I agree it doesn't matter which ambassador is inside the carriage considering almost no ambassador chooses the limo-option. You want to know which ambassador is inside? It's yours... or was at some time or another.

And for those of you complaining about the "European" look, blame your ancestors for imposing so many Western ideas on Japan back in the Meiji era.

Personally, I'm all for hanging onto whatever traditions you have left. If some people had their way, everybody in the world would only do things their way and no country would be unique.

(What a boring place the world would be if we got rid of all the old traditions and ceremonies.) I agree with that one

I just showed this picture to my husband. His first question: "Which country's ambassador?"

"Gaikoku", of course. Did you want some finer distinction?

Great picture though, I like it when traditions are preserved. The ambassador however would probably prefer an air conditioned limo however.

Now I know why the planes are taking off/landing like crazy every 3 minutes or so here in Chiba. Bansai to the new mysterious ambassador.

I know im a paranoid! lol!!!

NeoJamal - Har!

[quote]"How do they get to Tokyo Station first?"

By limousine, of course.[/quote]

BLASPHEMY! no public servant should afford to waste their precious tax payer money to run a limo through the Kanto Highway! Let me tell you how an upstanding ambassador would make his/her way into the Capital. First he will hop on a Sobu Rapid and if he encounters a frail old lady boarding the fully packed train at Shisui, he will give his seat up and stand all the way to Tokyo.

Hiyaaa horsey!says the new ambassador....

"How do they get to Tokyo Station first?"

By limousine, of course.

I am glad that you people who want to see such traditions abolished don't run the place. Which other old traditions would you like to see disappear? Festivals? Weddings? Christmas? What a boring place the world would be if we got rid of all the old traditions and ceremonies.

How do they get to Tokyo Station first?

Why not from the airport? o it is almost 100 miles away.

copy cat

A great idea - may I suggest that in future they should make the Ambassador dress-up in the ancient Japanese costume for the ceremony and the horse riders and other officials too should dress-up like the ancient Samurai Warriors. It is guaranteed to be a great tourist attraction - if I was the Ambassador I would most certainly do it. Farakh Malik

For a news site it would be nice to know "who" it was.

As for the carriage, I remember seeing a documentary about hirohito back in the 80s, Ambassador's have a choice of a limousine or carriage to pick them up, to date no one has ever chosen the limousine.

Moderator: It makes no difference to the discussion which ambassador it was.

A newly-arrived ambassador from what country?

What happened to the sedan chairs?

Tis very odd, the 'brit' look. Wonder why it is so much copied. Jp Samurai kit or similar would be soooo much more beautiful/impressive/majestic etc.

Doesn't matter what country he is from, he has a really cushy job in Japan. Sushi, onsens, geisha parties...

Excellent stuff! If you've got it, you should use it. :clap: Better than keeping it in a museum, and the horses will feel extra proud.

(Although it reminds me of the joke about Queen Elizabeth and Barack Obama on the way to Buckingham Palace...)

By the way does anybody know form which country is this new ambassador came form???

this is what is the drwaback of Imperial Democracy....

Jolly spiffing welcome, eh what?

this type of ass-backwards tradition is what keep Japan back in the middle ages. such pomp and ceremony

Move to the UK if you want to see Backwards Traditions of Pomp and Ceremony!

this type of ass-backwards tradition is what keep Japan back in the middle ages. such pomp and ceremony... the real issues are all being avoided.

All horse were retired after the event and turned in to Sushimi for the new ambassador!.. Sakura Sashime anyone?

isn't it about time that ambassadors were asked to use public transport

From Tokyo station to the palace? Would that be Yamanote-sen to Yurakucho then Yurakucho-sen to Sakuradamon? It would be quicker to walk. Still, I don't suppose he or she took public transport to Tokyo station.

What century is this?

pomp pageantry eroding taxes

This is great. What an awesome tradition.

Finger printing is out for diplomats. If you stuff up, you just get PNG'd and kicked out.

With regard to the photo, does anybody know about the horses featured? The one in the front (with the policeman riding) looks in really good condition. The grey at the back looks a bit gangly.

The amusing thing about this photo is how European it is with the carriage and the costumes. Isn't there a traditional Japanese costume the attendants could wear for protocol?

Japanese ambassador to what country? Or is this an ambassador of another country?

The ambassador from Budweiser, given the horses.

So I take it this carriage ride comes after the mug shot and finger printing... : )

Diplomats and people invited by Japan are exempeted from fingerprinting and mugshot. Always so amazing to see US citizens complaining about about being fingerprinted abroad....

In these day's of carbon emission restrictions, isn't it about time that ambassadors were asked to use public transport instead of the flotilla of chauffeur driven cars ? There are at least 3 cars following the horse-drawn carriages, which is ridiculous. Taxpayers money being turned into car pollution.

USNinJapan2, Diplamats are exempeted from finger printing. Unfortuantely, that applies to only ordinary folks like you and me.

Japanese ambassador to what country? Or is this an ambassador of another country?

So I take it this carriage ride comes after the mug shot and finger printing... : )

Welcome to Japan, land of the pretend and dress up.

Welcome to Tokyo - one of the cushiest cities in the world for an ambassador. Be sure to enjoy the fine sushi, wagyu and sake. Be discreet with the ladies and have a good time over the next few years. Just remember to take care with any royal family members playing squash in your embassy.

Which countries get the carriage and which countries just get a limo?

I think you'll find that ambassadors "present their credentials" to heads of state, not "hand in their accreditation"- "hand in" sounds a bit casual for something being presented to the emperor.

Moderator: It has been amended.

Nice picture but now will have to search for the ambassador and his nationality.