The enthronement of Emperor Hirohito was the culminating ceremony here to-day. It was cold but bright with a passing shower. Over a thousand people assembled at the Shishinden, or Throne Hall, your correspondent being one of a privileged group viewing the ceremony through the Kemei Gate. This was the first time such a privilege had been granted.
Princes and notables in full dress filed in from noon, and there followed the ambassadorial party numbering 37. In the courtyard were guards consisting of the sons of the nobility in blue and scarlet archaic dress as archers and halberdiers, standing before rows of banners. The Japanese ladies also wore archaic dress.
A bell announced the arrival of the Emperor and Empress, all bowing as the curtains were drawn, revealing their Majesties, wearing archaic dress, seated on the thrones. The Premier, Baron Tanaka, read the rescript from the foot of the steps, and then, ascending, read a congratulatory address, afterwards leading the shouts of ╥Banzai.╙ Owing to mistiming, the nation-wide shouts of ╥Banzai╙ broke out a minute earlier.
A Foreign Office official, speaking of the early morning ceremonies, expressed gratification that all the envoys, including the Catholics, bowed towards the Imperial shrine.
