EMPEROR’S FUNERAL

Hokitika Guardian, 8 February 1927, Page 3

EMPEROR’S FUNERAL

LAID TO lIEST.

[Australian & N.Z. Cable Association.]

TOKYO, February 7

Centuries old conventional Oriental funeral ceremonies was commenced tonight, when a cortege three miles long crossed the double bridge traversing the | moat at the entrance to the Imperial Palace in the centre of Tokyo, where Coshihito, 113 rd Emperor of Japan, lias lain in State since ’Ninas Day. Wood-burning flares in huge iron baskets, alternating with Shinto lanterns enclosing powerful arc lights, illuminated the avenue of Sasaki trees twenty feet high, lining the main approach. Among the low pine trees in the outer Palace Park, a mass of subjects hare-headed and silent, bowing low and prostrating even, when the catafalque slowly passed on, with the Imperial burden. Minute guns boomed a farewell salute. Plaintive pipes blended with the soft funeral drums, alone broke the silence, as sand a foot deep, prevented all other sound. Thus the procession of eight thousand passed through tlie winding streets ol the capital to Sliinjuku Park, where a great ceremonial hall was erected to the Shinto ritual. It is estimated at a minimum that a quarter of a million people paid a last tribute along the route.

Chieibu, representing the Emperor, with younger brothers, Princes of tho blood, followed the catafalque, which was placed nearly in the centre of the cortege. The Emperor and Empress reach Sliinjuku by another,route. The 7th and Bth will he observed as national holidays. The brilliant sunshin on Monday morning quickly dissipated the last vestige of snow. Tho people pouring in, commenced taking up positions soon after dawn, bringing their own mats and food. Before noon the best locations were occupied along the entire route. All traffic was stopped at three o’clock, excejft private motors. All army of workmen spread sand over the roadways, while 20,000 troops took up positions. Leaving the Palace for an hour and a-half, a strange procession, allegorical and symbolical, passed until it reached tho great Funeral Hall, where ten thousand of the nation’s highest awaited the coming of the body for three hours in subdued lights. AVith silent movement and the lowest tones the ritualists performed their rites.

At ten at night the Emperor, Hirohito stood before the coffin, a fid addressed a farewell to liis father. While the congregation stood, the Emperor and Empress, .the Imperial Princes, peers, the Premier and members of tho Cabinet were seated in front, with tho diplomatic Tepresntatives immediately behind. The ceremony lasted 2,)- hours. At exactly eleven the entire nation stopped movement. At 12.25 the hearers took the burden to its temporary station nearby. The entrainment occupied three-quarters of an hour. The funeral train then left the station. Along the railway line for twenty miles thousands of country residents gathered to pay their last homage to the dead. The Emperor does not accompany the body to Asakwa Mausoleum, Cinch ibu representing him at the ceremony at tho Mausoleum, which commences in the morning. Tokyo broadcasted the funeral music. Even the shuffling of the feet of the marchers in the sand could he heard.