President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and First Lady Fazna Ahmed have attended the official enthronement ceremony of His Imperial Majesty Emperor Naruhito, who ascended to Japan’s Chrysanthemum throne earlier this year following the abdication of his father, Emperor Akihito.
Multitudes of heads of states and officials were in attendance at the Enthronement Ceremony alongside President Solih and the First Lady, including Prince Charles, the heir apparent to the British throne, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and South Korean Prime Minister Lee Nak-yeon. Heads of state and other dignitaries from more than 170 countries were present at this ceremony celebrating the beginning of the New Emperor’s rule, said the President's Office.
A change in the monarch of the imperial throne of Japan is a rare and special occasion, with the previous Emperor having been crowned on 7th January 1989. The Maldives was present at Emperor Akihito’s enthronement ceremony as well, with then-incumbent President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom attending the ceremony.
The President and the First Lady also attended the Court Banquet held in honour of the visiting delegates attending the enthronement of His Majesty Emperor Naruhito of Japan to the Chrysanthemum throne, said the President's Office. President Solih conveyed congratulations and extended felicitations to Emperor Naruhito at the court banquet, held at the State Banquet Hall of the Imperial Palace on Tuesday evening.
The court banquet, or the Kyoen-no-Gi, was attended by foreign dignitaries and representatives of Japan’s executive, legislative and judicial branches, and their spouses. The function ended with entertainment by the Bugaku—traditional Japanese court music accompanied by dancing at the Grand Hall, said the President's Office.
The President is currently on an official visit to Japan on the invitation of the Japanese Government to advance the bilateral relations and development cooperation between the two countries.
