Itinerary
7:25 AM - Guests arrive at the Imperial Palace in Tenkyo. A purification ritual, whereby the guests wash their hands and mouths, will be performed prior to entering the palace grounds.
7:40 AM - Guests enter the funeral site and take their seats.
7:55 AM - The head priest will enter the room. All guests are expected to bow in unison towards the priest.
7:59 AM - The other priests enter the room.
8:00 AM - Start of the funeral.
8:01 AM - The other priests perform the shūbatsu no gi, a ritual intended to purify the room, offerings, and participants. If able, one should stand and bow their head during the ritual.
8:05 AM - End of the shūbatsu no gi ritual. All present should bow.
8:05 - 8:15 AM - The priests present offerings and banners to the deceased alongside gohei (scepters with white cloth or paper attached).
8:15 - 8:50 AM - The head priest presents an elegy praising the life of the deceased and offering prayers that the deceased become a guardian spirit in Takamagahara, the heavens. Guests should listen to the priest's words with their heads bowed.
8:50 - 9:00 AM - A eulogy composed by the Emperor's family is offered by an assistant priest.
9:05 AM - Offerings of tamagushi—branches of the sakaki decorated with strips of washi paper, silk, or cotton—are made at the altar, in order of precedence from the priesthood to the Emperor's family and finally to guests.
9:10 AM - The offerings made at the altar, both before and during the funeral, are removed.
9:15 AM - End of the funeral service. The Emperor's coffin is removed from the palace and made ready for transport to the burial site.
10:00 AM - Departure of the precession to the Yamato Imperial Graveyard under escort.
1:10 PM - Arrival at the Yamato Imperial Graveyard.
1:30 PM - The coffin is removed from its transport and placed within its tomb. Nobody other than the priests, the family of the deceased Emperor, and the Emperor's honor-guard shall enter the tomb.
1:35 PM - A 21-gun salute is performed alongside a flyover by the Imperial Fusanese Air Force.
1:40 PM - The Emperor's tomb is sealed. Everyone once again performs the purification ritual seen at the start of the funeral.
1:45 PM - The chief priest bows and the assistant priests present the offerings.
1:50 PM - The chief priest recites a norito (ritual incantation).
1:55 PM - Tamagushi are presented at the tomb.
2:00 PM - The chief priest bows, then everyone else bows. The burial ends.
2:10 PM - Departure of the precession to the Imperial Palace under escort.
5:20 PM - Arrival at the Imperial Palace.
6:30 PM - A banquet is to be held for the family and guests.