The king and aye: When monarchs influence the people

The then Prince of Wales joined other royals from around the world in travelling to witness the crowning of Emperor Naruhito in 2019. — AFP

ON a 2019 autumn morning heavy with rain, Emperor Naru-hito announced his enthronement to the mythical sun goddess Amaterasu in the Japanese imperial palace grounds.

Later, he stood in the palace’s most prestigious space, the Matsu-no-ma, for his ascension to the Chrysanthemum throne.