No Holding The Horses When It Comes To Presenting Credentials*

27 June 2025

Japan’s Imperial Family undertakes as much pomp and paegantry as other countries with royals, though perhaps a little more subdued, with the profession of Presentation of Credentials being a good example.

When an ambassador to Japan is appointed, they are given the option of getting a horse-drawn carriage ride from Tokyo Station to the Imperial Palace to present their credentials to the Emperor, the symbol of the state.

I get to work in a place where you can see the ceremonies, which are a great show for me as a horse fan.

The processions use zagyoshiki, which are ceremonial carriages drawn by a pair of horses.

Most of the zagyoshiki were made from the end of the Meiji era (1868-1912) to the beginning of the Showa era (1926-1989).

Japan is one of the few countries where horse-drawn carriages are still used to transport newly appointed ambassadors, along with Britain and Spain.

Weather is crucial, too, because if it’s wet, windy or otherwise wild, a motorcade replaces the horse-drawn procession.

Processions of horse-drawn carriages are also used in Imperial Household ceremonies such as the accession of the Emperor to the throne and weddings of members of the Imperial Family.

* As long as the weather’s good!