About the Imperial Palace’s State Room The State Room, or Seiden Matsu no Ma, is the most prestigious hall in the Palace. The Taiirei Seiden no Gi (Ceremony of the Abdication of Emperor Akihito) was held here yesterday. Also to be held here is the Kenji to Shokei no Gi (Ceremony for Inheriting the Imperial Regalia and Seals) by incoming Emperor Naruhito at 10.30am today.

Seiden Japan’s Three Matsu no Ma Crown Princess Crown Prince Emperor Empress Sacred Treasures • Directly translated Masako Naruhito Akihito Michiko • In his rst ceremony as Pine Room; of cial as Emperor today, translation is State Naruhito will inherit Room. State and the Three Sacred • The only room with Privy Seals Treasures – also a polished wooden referred to as oor instead of Imperial Regalia – carpet. that symbolise his legitimacy as Emperor, along with 370 sq m State and Privy Seals used for of cial Ceiling is 8m high matters. • The Treasures, which • Flooring made with are said to date to wood from Japanese pre-mediaeval times, zelkova, a tree known are so sacred that for its beautiful grain even generations of and durability. emperors have not laid eyes on them.

Yata no Kagami (eight-sided mirror), represents Yasakani no Magatama (jewel), represents Kusanagi no Tsurugi (sword), represents wisdom and honesty benevolence and kindness bravery and valour • The mirror is said to have been made by the • The jewel is a comma-shaped bead that dates back to • By Japanese folklore, Susano-o (the Shinto Ishikori-dome (the Shinto God of mirrors), with the about 1,000 BC. It’s said to be worn by Ame-no-Uzume God of the sea and storms) had acquired the original believed to be kept at the Ise Grand Shrine (the Shinto Goddess of mirth and revelry), who sword after he slew a mighty eight-headed in Mie prefecture. Mirrors can divine truth, performed an extravagant dance to coax Amaterasu serpent. He then gave the sword to his sister, according to Japanese folklore, and this treasure is from a cave where she went into hiding after a ght the Sun Goddess Amaterasu, who is the direct so sacred that it’s not used in the ceremony. with Susano-o, plunging the earth into darkness. ancestor of Japan’s line of emperors.

PHOTO: REUTERS TEXT: WALTER SIM STRAITS TIMES GRAPHICS