Japan has held a groundbreaking ceremony at the imperial palace, where Shinto priests prayed for safe and successful construction of a pair of shrines for Emperor Naruhito’s key succession rituals later this year.
Naruhito ascended to the Chrysanthemum Throne on May 1.
A main ascension ceremony is planned in October, when thousands of guests from in and outside Japan will be invited, followed by a religious harvest rite in November.
The planned shrines, which are to be demolished later, will be the site of Naruhito’s first Daijosai, or the Great Thanksgiving, ritual on November 14-15.
Some experts say the ritual violates the separation of state and religion.
