Events to Celebrate the 20th Anniversary of His Majesty the Emperor's Accession to the Throne

October 5, 2009

January 7 of this year marked the 20th Anniversary of His Majesty the Emperor's Accession to the Throne.

The Government of Japan will conduct a commemorative ceremony on Thursday, November 12 of this year (the Enthronement Ceremony was held on the same date in 1990), with the Cabinet serving as the organizer. The Cabinet Secretariat and the Cabinet Office will make the necessary preparations in cooperation with the ministries and agencies concerned.

The ministries and agencies concerned plan to organize the following events to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of His Majesty the Emperor's Accession to the Throne (updated as of October 5).

Click the title of the ministry or agency concerned for more details.

Cabinet Office

The International Youth Conference for 2009 (16th conference) in commemoration of the 20th Anniversary of His Majesty the Emperor's Accession to the Throne and the 50th anniversary of the Cabinet Office's International Youth Exchange Program
Japan-ASEAN Youth Leaders Summit in commemoration of the 20th Anniversary of His Majesty the Emperor's Accession to the Throne
Public opening of the front courtyard of the State Guest House, Akasaka Palace
Photo exhibition during the annual public opening of the State Guest House, Akasaka Palace
The Special Exhibition of Government Records and Archives in Commemoration of the 20th Anniversary of His Majesty the Emperor's Accession to the Throne
The MIDORI Academic Prize and the Award Ceremony

Imperial Household Agency

Compilation of the video tentatively titled "A Record of Activities of Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress"
Compilation of the book tentatively titled "A Record of Activities of Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress"
The Special Exhibition and the Exhibition Run of the Ceremonial Carriages in the East Gardens of the Imperial Palace in commemoration of the 20th Anniversary of His Majesty the Emperor's Accession to the Throne (tentative title)
The Special Exhibitions in commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of Their Majesties' Wedding and the 20th Anniversary of His Majesty the Emperor's Accession to the Throne "Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress - Memories and Human Ties"
The Special Spring Concert of Imperial Court Music (GAGAKU) in commemoration of the 50th
Anniversary of Their Majesties' Wedding and the 20th Anniversary of His Majesty the Emperor's Accession to the Throne
The Special Autumn Concert of Imperial Court Music (GAGAKU) in commemoration of the 20th anniversary of His Majesty the Emperor's Accession to the Throne
Special Open Days of the Kyoto Imperial Palace for commemorating the 20th Anniversary of His Majesty the Emperor's Accession to the Throne
The Special Exhibition in commemoration of the 20th Anniversary of His Majesty the Emperor's Accession to the Throne: Treasures of the Imperial Collections - Splendor of Japanese Art

Note: The Imperial Household Agency will organize other commemorative events, including a commemorative court reception and the opening of the Imperial Palace to the public on a fixed date to allow well-wishers to write their names in the Greeting Book.

National Police Agency

Commemorative martial arts events
Compilation of a collection of tanka poems celebrating the 20th Anniversary of His Majesty the Emperor's Accession to the Throne
Commemorative tree-planning
Commemorative concert

Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications

Issuance of postage stamps in commemoration of the 20th Anniversary of His Majesty the Emperor's Accession to the Throne

Ministry of Justice

Offer of best wishes and an exhibition of photos at the national convention to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the launch of the rehabilitation system
Publication of a feature story commemorating the 20th Anniversary of His Majesty the Emperor's Accession to the Throne in the journal Kosei Hogo (September 2009 issue), a journal for public relations and training for private probation personnel

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Special public relations abroad

Ministry of Finance

Issuance of coins in commemoration of the 20th Anniversary of His Majesty the Emperor's Accession to the Throne

Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology

Free admission to national museums
The exhibition tentatively titled "the Diversity of Gobioid Fishes" in commemoration of the 20th Anniversary of His Majesty the Emperor's Accession to the Throne
Exhibition tentatively titled "Progress in Science and Technology during the Heisei Era"
"The Emperor and the Japan Academy Prize with the world of the Shinkan Eiga"
Special exhibition commemorationg the 20th Anniversary of His Majesty the Emperor's Accession to the Throne "Kyoto Gosyo: Recalling Great Treasures of Court Culture"
Special exhibition in commemoration of the 20th Anniversary of His Majesty the Emperor's Accession to the Throne: 61st Annual Exhibition of Shoso-in Treasures
Special exhibition of works of art that have won the Imperial Prize and the Japan Art Academy Prize
Kabuki performance
Imperial Court Music (GAGAKU)
The program to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the opening of the National Chuo Youth Friendship Center in commemoration of the 20th Anniversary of His Majesty the Emperor's Accession to the Throne and the 50th anniversary of Their Majesties' wedding
64th National Sports Festival
Japanese martial arts festival
Sports Masters Japan 2009
National Sports Recreation Festival

Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare

Activities related to sports events for the disabled
- (1) 9th National Sports Festival for the Disabled
- (2) Japan Paralympic Games 2009
  - (i) Sledge hockey games
  - (ii) Alpine skiing games
  - (iii) Cross-country skiing games
  - (iv) Archery games
  - (v) Swimming games
  - (vi) Track and field games
- (3) 38th Japan Wheelchair Basketball Championship
Association of KODOMONOKUNI
- (1) Issuance of commemorative admission tickets
- (2) Tree-planting in commemoration of the 20th Anniversary of His Majesty the Emperor's Accession to the Throne
47th National Skills Competition (Skills Competition, Abylimpics, Ibaraki 2009)
31st National Skills Championship for the Disabled (Skills Competition, Abylimpics, Ibaraki 2009)

Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries

Special exhibition at the Festival of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries "harvest festival"
Symposium on silk culture
Establishment of "Hippophile Day"
12th national summit on agricultural human resources in Saitama
Special exhibition and an open symposium on silkworm research
Commemorative tree-planning and exhibitions as part of national land afforestation events
Compilation of a photo collection concerning national land afforestation
Commemorative improvements to natural recreation forests
Commemorative reforestation for profit sharing
29th National Convention for the Development of an Abundantly Productive Sea

Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism

Free admission to National Government Parks
Commemorative tree-planting in National Government Parks
Full-dressing of training ships
Full-dressing of training ships
(Full) dressing of patrol boats

Ministry of the Environment

Improvements to outdoor lightings and signs and tree-planting in Kokyo Gaien National Garden
Project to improve the water environment of the moats in Kokyo Gaien National Garden
Free admission to and a guided walk in Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden
A special chrysanthemum show in Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden
Special opening days of the Old Imperial Rest House in Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden
Reconstruction of the greenhouse in Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden
Project for sapling-rearing and planting of cherry species in Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden
Conservation and Utilization of the "Nasu no Mori (Forest of Nasu)" (tentative name)
Nature observing events in the "Nasu no Mori (Forest of Nasu)" (tentative name)
Commemorative tree-planting around visitor centers in national parks

Ministry of Defense

Full dressing and lamp ornamentation of vessels
Publication of commemorative booklets for the Self-Defense Forces' central ceremonies

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