Japan's new Emperor Naruhito, right, attends his coronation ceremony at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on Wednesday, May 1. Standing at left is his brother, Crown Prince Akishino.

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In pictures: Japan's Naruhito ascends to the throne

Updated 11:58 AM ET, Wed May 1, 2019

Japan's new Emperor Naruhito, right, attends his coronation ceremony at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on Wednesday, May 1. Standing at left is his brother, Crown Prince Akishino.

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Japan's new emperor, Naruhito, has formally ascended to the Chrysanthemum Throne, replacing his father, Akihito, who had abdicated a day earlier.

Naruhito is the 126th Emperor of Japan, the latest in an unbroken line that stretches back 14 centuries.

During a special ritual in the Imperial Palace's Matsu-no-Ma state room, an almost exclusively male audience saw Naruhito, 59, take possession of royal regalia and seals that provide ceremonial proof of his ascension.

Naruhito is followed by his wife, Masako, as he walks to make his first address as Emperor.

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Naruhito delivers his first speech after his ascension to the throne. In his remarks, he acknowledged the assumption of his role as an "important responsibility," and he paid tribute to his father's legacy.

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Naruhito, standing on a dais, inherits the imperial regalia.

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People take pictures as the royal family leaves the Imperial Palace.

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People at Tokyo's Meiji Shrine receive sake as they celebrate the change of an era.

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Naruhito's motorcade leaves the Imperial Palace after his imperial rituals.

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Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his wife, Akie, bow as they arrive for Naruhito's ascension ceremony.

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People bow toward the Imperial Palace in Tokyo as they wait for the new emperor to ascend to the throne.

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Sumo wrestlers create the characters for "Reiwa," Japan's new imperial era, at a Tokyo sports arena.

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Naruhito's motorcade drives past crowds of well-wishers.

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Naruhito's wife, Masako, arrives at the Imperial Palace.

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Stamps are postmarked on the first day of the Reiwa era.

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Shinto priests recite religious passages before entering the Meiji Shrine's main building for a ceremony on Wednesday. The ceremony reported the new emperor's enthronement to the royal family's ancestors.

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People gather to see the new Emperor leaving the Imperial Palace.

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A girl holds calligraphy reading "Reiwa," the name of the new imperial era.

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People gather to see the new Emperor and take photos.

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Naruhito waves to well-wishers.

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