The huge Takamikura throne that will be used in next year's ceremony to mark Crown Prince Naruhito's accession to the Chrysanthemum Throne was shown to the press on Tuesday.
The 8-ton, 6.5-meter-high canopied throne, also used in the enthronement rites for three emperors including Emperor Akihito, is expected to be transported from where it is currently kept in Kyoto to Tokyo this summer.
The crown prince will succeed to the throne the day after Emperor Akihito abdicates on April 30, 2019.
(The new emperor will sit in the Takamikura throne [L] at the accession ceremony.)
The Michodai throne, which will be used during the ceremony by the new empress, currently Crown Princess Masako, was built like the Takamikura throne but smaller in size.
The thrones kept at the Shishinden hall of the Kyoto Imperial Palace and unveiled to the media looked faded.
According to the Imperial Household Agency, the thrones will undergo repairs over their damaged lacquer finish and degradation of gold work at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo before the ceremony is held on Oct. 22 next year.
The thrones will be disassembled and loaded onto trucks for transport.
(The Michodai throne [R] is for the new empress, currently Crown Princess Masako.)
