Japan to pardon 550,000 criminals to mark new emperor's enthronement cnn.com

(CNN) More than half a million petty criminals will be pardoned in Japan next week to mark the enthronement of Emperor Naruhito , the government announced Friday.
About 550,000 people will be given amnesties for their crimes to encourage criminals to "reform and rehabilitate," Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said.
New Japanese Emperor Naruhito delivers his first speech after ascending the throne during the enthronement ceremony at the Imperial Palace on May 1, 2019 in Tokyo.
Naruhito will celebrate his enthronement on Tuesday in a ceremony at the Imperial Palace attended by dignitaries from 174 countries and international organizations, followed by a series of banquets.
Japanese Emperor Akihito sits in a carriage on his way to perform a ritual to mark the completion of his enthronement on November 28, 1990.