Japan's Emperor Naruhito has formally proclaimed his ... was held in the presence of an ancient sword and jewel - sacred treasures that act as symbols of imperial power. Hundreds of foreign ...

In the imperial ceremonies, Yata no Kagami - or eight-sided mirror - represents the wisdom of the emperor. According to the Kojiki, the ancient written record of Japanese history and legend ...

The Emperor read out a script written in ancient Japanese to inform them of his abdication. The abdication ceremony was held in the State Room in the Imperial Palace in the evening. Emperor ...

Japanese Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako wave to well-wishers from a balcony at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo during a New ...

For centuries, the ancient Tokaido highway was the most important road in all Japan. It linked Kyoto, the emperor's capital, with Edo, the city of the shoguns, now known as Tokyo. These days ...