From left: Japan’s Emperor Akihito, Empress Michiko, Crown Prince Naruhito and Crown Princess Masako. Photo: AFP
Japanese government sued over emperor’s enthronement ceremony by plaintiffs objecting to its ‘highly religious’ nature
- The ceremony, to be funded with taxes, incorporates imperial Shintoism and the plaintiffs claim this violates the separation of religion and state
- Similar suits were filed against the government when Akihito was enthroned upon the death of his father Emperor Hirohito in 1989
From left: Japan’s Emperor Akihito, Empress Michiko, Crown Prince Naruhito and Crown Princess Masako. Photo: AFP