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Japan grants half a million pardons to mark enthronement of emperor Naruhito
Japan has pardoned more than half a million people found guilty of petty crimes such as traffic violations to mark the formal ascension of Naruhito to the Chrysanthemum throne.
Naruhito proclaimed himself Japan's new emperor and vowed to "stand with the people" after performing a series of ancient rituals on Tuesday that culminated in his appearance on the imperial throne alongside his wife, Empress Masako.
The 59-year-old, who ascended the throne in May following the abdication of his father, Akihito, marked his official enthronement in front of around 2,000 guests, including heads of state and other royals from more than 180 countries.
[...] To mark the occasion on Tuesday, Abe's ultra-conservative government granted pardons to about 550,000 eligible applicants. The decision was not publicly debated.
The pre-war custom of clemency by the emperor, who was revered as a god in those days, has triggered criticism as being undemocratic and politically motivated. At the time of former Akihito's enthronement, 2.5 million people were given amnesty.
Also at CNN, Asahi Shimbun, and Japan Times.
Previously: MonarchyNews: The King is My Co-Pilot and Japanese Succession "Crisis"
Japan Clears Way for Emperor to Step Down in 1st Abdication in 200 Years
Big Tech Warns of 'Japan's Millennium Bug' Ahead of Akihito's Abdication
Japan's Next Era to be Called "Reiwa"
(Score: 0, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday October 22 2019, @07:34PM (10 children)
War crime apologists pardon more criminals. What's new?
(Score: 3, Touché) by ikanreed on Tuesday October 22 2019, @07:42PM
The particular old wrinkly ass sitting on a throne.
(Score: 5, Insightful) by krishnoid on Tuesday October 22 2019, @08:10PM (1 child)
Pardoning the little people, rather than other war criminals?
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday October 22 2019, @10:16PM
"rather than other war criminals?"
Like kowtowing at yasukuni war crime shrine?
(Score: 5, Insightful) by Bot on Tuesday October 22 2019, @08:17PM (6 children)
Soon in this thread: people OK with illegal migrants, NGO helping the mafia cartels, the cultural impact of importing with a red carpet people considering us infidels, but not OK with forgetting about a traffic ticket, because un-elected emperor. As if aristocracy weren't a better barrier than democracy against those guys using $$$ to corrupt anything. Whatever.
Account abandoned.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday October 22 2019, @08:27PM
Hey bot, I see that the diodes on your left side are all blown up. Get your metallic butt into a service center, or else ...
(Score: 3, Insightful) by pipedwho on Tuesday October 22 2019, @09:04PM
Can't have the emperor interfering with the revenue stream.
When there are laws on the books that assumes guilt, give you no way to defend yourself, and impose hefty fines in lieu of something that would otherwise cost the state money, then you know the purpose has nothing to do with justice.
(Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday October 23 2019, @07:22AM (3 children)
If anything, I would think that people on the left would be more inclined to be okay with pardoning people for petty crimes in general. What the hell are you talking about?
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday October 23 2019, @09:19AM (2 children)
>I would think that people on the left would be more inclined to be okay with pardoning people for petty crimes in general.
so you did find lefties applauding the emperors' move?
(Score: 2) by DeathMonkey on Wednesday October 23 2019, @05:17PM (1 child)
A an official card carrying lefty I approve this move.
(Score: 2) by Bot on Thursday October 24 2019, @02:23PM
Your card is revoked, you doormat of the Bourgeoisie.
Account abandoned.