About 1,000 people, including Imperial family members, government officials and foreign dignitaries, attended a Shinto-style funeral Tuesday for the late Empress Dowager at two locations in Tokyo, with the Emperor, her eldest son, as chief mourner.
Participants in the "Renso-no-gi" ceremony, held at the Toshimagaoka Imperial Cemetery in Tokyo's Bunkyo Ward and the Musashino Imperial Mausoleum in Hachioji in the western suburbs of Tokyo, bid a final farewell to Emperor Showa's widow, who died on June 16 at the age of 97.
In the morning, musicians from the Imperial Household Agency led a procession of mourners at the cemetery while performing ancient court music. They were followed by a hearse carrying the coffin. The Emperor, the Empress and other Imperial family members walked behind.