Emperor Emeritus Akihito to receive “scaled down” funeral rites

The Imperial Household Agency has indicated that the future funeral for Emperor Emeritus Akihito will be scaled down, at the request of the Emperor Emeritus. 

Japan’s Imperial Household Agency has said that future planning for the funeral of Emperor Emeritus Akihito will be significantly scaled down as opposed to the grand ceremonies and rituals carried out in 1989 following the death of Emperor Hirohito — posthumously called Emperor Shōwa. Ceremonies could be conducted at the Imperial Palace over two days with reduced attendance compared to the grand full-day ceremonies held for the previous Emperor.

It should be noted that this is future planning only and shows no indication that the Emperor Emeritus is in bad health. While Akihito has been treated for myocardial ischemia, an asymptomatic heart condition that reduces blood flow from the coronary arteries to the heart, the IHA has routinely noted that the Emperor Emeritus’s medication adjustments and time with Empress Emerita Michiko have greatly improved his overall condition. “Currently he is living life as usual,” the IHA has said.

In 1989, around 10,000 attendees gathered for the ‘Sojoden-no-Gi’ (Imperial House ritual) and the ‘Taiso-no-Rei’ (State-Sponsored funeral), both held at the Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden. The National Garden had to be closed for around two and a half months for the preparations.

Both Emperor Emeritus Akihito and Empress Emerita Michiko, before and after their abdication, have expressed their wish for their funeral rituals to be “in line with Imperial House tradition” while minimising the impact on people’s daily lives. The previous ceremonies were held from early in the morning to late into the night, with various structures needing to be built to accommodate the large official delegation — around 24 royal families were represented in 1989. The mourning period also “restricted” the daily life of many in Japan, which the Emperor Emeritus and Empress Emerita took into consideration.

“I think this shows their consistent concern for the people.” — IHA Official

According to sources, venues for the ‘Sojoden-no-Gi’ held for Akihito could be the Imperial Palace’s Seiden-Matsu-no-Ma State Room. This would ensure the safety of future attendees, including from external factors such as inclement weather. The attendance list is to be significantly scaled down from 10,000 guests to around 2,500.

“I understand that the Imperial Household Agency is making the necessary considerations. The Government believes that the most important thing is for Their Majesties the Emperor Emeritus and Empress Emerita to be able to live peacefully and quietly.” — Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara

The future plans have been approved and endorsed by Emperor Naruhito and Crown Prince Akishino (Fumihito). It was previously announced in 2013 that then-Emperor Akihito and then-Empress Michiko expressed their wish for a smaller Imperial Mausoleum and cremation, rather than the traditional burial.