Japanese emperor Naruhito ascends throne in ornate ceremony www.independent.co.uk

Japan’s new emperor has formally proclaimed his ascendancy to the country’s Chrysanthemum Throne in an ornate ceremony.
Naruhito, the country’s 126th emperor, appeared on Tuesday before a cheering audience at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo.
The enthronement ceremony is the second phase of a three step ascendancy process, following the emperor’s formal succession in May.
Naruhito and Masako have been warmly welcomed by the Japanese public, though some have criticised the government’s decision to celebrate the enthronement by granting 2.5m criminals amnesty.
Japan bars male heirs from ascending to the throne and the couple’s teenage daughter Princess Aiko is unlikely to ever succeed her father.