Etiquette Relaxed for Hero

 Admiral Count Togo of Japan— Everyday life of the Japanese Imperial Court was practically unknown to the public in spite of the increasing enterprise of Japanese journalism, which had made repeated efforts to break down the barrier of excluslveness and mystery that had hitherto guarded all approach to the inner apartments of the Chiyoda Palace.

Japanese Hero Honored with

 Relaxed Etiquette of the Imperial Court  

Admiral Count Togo, commander of the Japanese fleet which destroyed the Russian squadrons in the battle of the Sea of Japan in May, 1905. Now enfeebled by his eighty years, has special permission to carry a cane when visiting the Imperial Court.

The carrying of sticks of any sort in the presence of the nation's rulers is forbidden by court etiquette, but exception in the case of the aged sea hero was made by formal ruling of the Minister of the Imperial household . — Healdsburg Enterprise, 1926

 

 

🍽Etiquette Enthusiast, Maura J. Graber, of The RSVP Institute of Etiquette, is the Site Editor for the Etiquipedia© Etiquette Encyclopedia

Japanese Imperial Court Etiquette

Prince Arisugawa Takehito, (1862 – 1913) was the 10th head of a cadet branch of the Japanese imperial family and a career officer in the Imperial Japanese Navy.  Prince Arisugawa was assigned to the escort of Russian Crown Prince Nikolai (who later became Tsar Nicholas II) during his tour of Japan in 1891. While he was in the Prince's charge, Nikolai was wounded in an assassination attempt, called the "Otsu Scandal," which led to a considerable worsening of diplomatic relations between Japan and Russia.

Everyday life of the Japanese court is practically unknown to the public in spite of the increasing enterprise of Japanese journalism, which has made repeated efforts to break down the barrier of excluslveness and mystery that has hitherto guarded all approach to the inner apartments of the Chiyoda palace. 

Invariably these attempts to violate the sanctity of the imperial precincts have ended in failure, and until a short time ago no consecutive and intelligent account of just what actually goes on at court had ever been published. The death of the Emperor Mutauhito, who has now joined the ranks of the Sacred Ancestors with the posthumous title of Meiji Tenno, and the retirement of the lord chamberlain, Prince Tokudaiji, have removed the two greatest obstacles In the way of a more intimate knowledge of palace happenings. 

The new emperor and his consort, the Empress Sadeko, are much more modern in their ideas and thoughts than the late ruler and it has not taken long for several expressions of their liberal tendencies to become evident. 

The three essentials of palace life would appear to be cleanliness, ceremony and tradition, or rather superstition. The maids who attend on the court ladles during their toilet perform their duties on their knees and on no account must they touch their own lower limbs. Should that accidentally happen, the offending maid must instantly withdraw and undergo a course of purification before she can again appear before her mistress. 

If the rules with regard to the maids of the ladies-in-waiting are so strict, it may be imagined that those with regard to the personal attendants of the sovereigns are even more so. It is, of course, well known that all service before their majesties has to be performed on the knees, and it is not etiquette to approach them except on the knees. Even the physicians who attended on the late emperor during his last illness were not exempted from this rule. 

It is also common knowledge that no one may touch the Imperial person with ungloved hands Last July Drs. Imura and Aoyama obtained permission for the first time to take the Imperial pulse without interposition of a piece of silk between their fingers and the patient's wrist, while for the first time on record medical instruments were applied to the Imperial body. This rule is equally strict for the ladies-in-waiting, and especially so when in attendance on their majesties when bathing or at their toilet. —The Mariposa Gazette, 1913

Etiquette Enthusiast Maura J Graber is the Site Editor for the Etiquipedia© Etiquette Encyclopedia

Jogging Etiquette at Japan's Imperial Palace

Since many persons, such as not only a runner but a pedestrian, a bicycle, a tourist, are in the circumference of the Imperial Palace, a runner’s manners become very important.

Tokyo officials compiled etiquette to deal with a surge in the number of joggers exercising along the fringes of the Imperial Palace.

10 Things the Japanese National Tourist Association of Chiyoda City Wants You to Know

1. Stay on the left side – Note that cars are driven on the left side of the road in Japan, so…
2. No passing your fellow runner – When the path becomes narrow run in line
3. Run counterclockwise to fit in- That what it’s made for. Everyone is doing it so you should too.
4. Pace yourself during rush hour – Run with ease at the time of rush hours not worry about time.
5. Call it when overtaking the person in front of you – "Coming through!"
6. No "clotheslining" people from behind- Don’t to spread when running in a group.
7. Do your best to stay out of the way – Neither cool-down nor talking while standing closes a way.
8. Wear headphones – The volume of a music player is cut down.
9. Take home your garbage, keeping the trail clean – The Tokyo Imperial Palace would appreciate it.
10. Give it your all- It runs with the heart of consideration.

About #5: How to call out Hidarigawa Wo Torimasu

Although there are a lot of ways to call out your fellow runner when passing, you don’t want to be rude saying something like “get out of the way, coming through (zoom).” No, all you have to do is tell the person in front of you loud enough so that they can hear you, “I’m coming at your left!”

When you overtake, you can prevent contact by “going along the right side” from behind, and calling out to others. It is a serious thing to warn the rear.

From http://slism.com/diet/tokyo-imperial-palace-jogging.html 

Etiquette Enthusiast, Maura J. Graber, is the Site Editor for the Etiquipedia© Etiquette Encyclopedia