Ride for the ambassador
Picture of the Day ( 46 )
A newly-arrived ambassador is driven to the imperial palace to present his credentials to the emperor. It is a tradition for new ambassadors to be picked up from Tokyo Station either in a limousine or the carriage.
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46 Comments
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some14some
Nice picture but now will have to search for the ambassador and his nationality.
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Apsara
I think you'll find that ambassadors "present their credentials" to heads of state, not "hand in their accreditation"- "hand in" sounds a bit casual for something being presented to the emperor.
Moderator: It has been amended.
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Sidwarwick
Which countries get the carriage and which countries just get a limo?
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JackDorff
Welcome to Tokyo - one of the cushiest cities in the world for an ambassador. Be sure to enjoy the fine sushi, wagyu and sake. Be discreet with the ladies and have a good time over the next few years. Just remember to take care with any royal family members playing squash in your embassy.
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bamboohat
Welcome to Japan, land of the pretend and dress up.
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USNinJapan2
So I take it this carriage ride comes after the mug shot and finger printing... : )
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gogogo
Japanese ambassador to what country? Or is this an ambassador of another country?
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Proffesor
USNinJapan2, Diplamats are exempeted from finger printing. Unfortuantely, that applies to only ordinary folks like you and me.
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northlondon
In these day's of carbon emission restrictions, isn't it about time that ambassadors were asked to use public transport instead of the flotilla of chauffeur driven cars ? There are at least 3 cars following the horse-drawn carriages, which is ridiculous. Taxpayers money being turned into car pollution.
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Rodney_King
Diplomats and people invited by Japan are exempeted from fingerprinting and mugshot. Always so amazing to see US citizens complaining about about being fingerprinted abroad....
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zurcronium
The ambassador from Budweiser, given the horses.
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smartacus
The amusing thing about this photo is how European it is with the carriage and the costumes. Isn't there a traditional Japanese costume the attendants could wear for protocol?
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timorborder
Finger printing is out for diplomats. If you stuff up, you just get PNG'd and kicked out.
With regard to the photo, does anybody know about the horses featured? The one in the front (with the policeman riding) looks in really good condition. The grey at the back looks a bit gangly.
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SushiSake3
This is great. What an awesome tradition.
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suebe36d
pomp pageantry eroding taxes
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yokomoc
What century is this?
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Stonecoldsoba
From Tokyo station to the palace? Would that be Yamanote-sen to Yurakucho then Yurakucho-sen to Sakuradamon? It would be quicker to walk. Still, I don't suppose he or she took public transport to Tokyo station.
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Lamborghini
All horse were retired after the event and turned in to Sushimi for the new ambassador!.. Sakura Sashime anyone?
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PepinGalarga
this type of ass-backwards tradition is what keep Japan back in the middle ages. such pomp and ceremony... the real issues are all being avoided.
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Lamborghini
Move to the UK if you want to see Backwards Traditions of Pomp and Ceremony!
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Den Den
Jolly spiffing welcome, eh what?
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vrfriendrv
this is what is the drwaback of Imperial Democracy....
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vrfriendrv
By the way does anybody know form which country is this new ambassador came form???
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nandakandamanda
Excellent stuff! If you've got it, you should use it. :clap: Better than keeping it in a museum, and the horses will feel extra proud.
(Although it reminds me of the joke about Queen Elizabeth and Barack Obama on the way to Buckingham Palace...)
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Den Den
Doesn't matter what country he is from, he has a really cushy job in Japan. Sushi, onsens, geisha parties...
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ensnaturae
Tis very odd, the 'brit' look. Wonder why it is so much copied. Jp Samurai kit or similar would be soooo much more beautiful/impressive/majestic etc.
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NeoJamal
What happened to the sedan chairs?
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0letstalk
A newly-arrived ambassador from what country?
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Badge213
For a news site it would be nice to know "who" it was.
As for the carriage, I remember seeing a documentary about hirohito back in the 80s, Ambassador's have a choice of a limousine or carriage to pick them up, to date no one has ever chosen the limousine.
Moderator: It makes no difference to the discussion which ambassador it was.
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polarmalik
A great idea - may I suggest that in future they should make the Ambassador dress-up in the ancient Japanese costume for the ceremony and the horse riders and other officials too should dress-up like the ancient Samurai Warriors. It is guaranteed to be a great tourist attraction - if I was the Ambassador I would most certainly do it. Farakh Malik
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oberst
copy cat
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noborito
Why not from the airport? o it is almost 100 miles away.
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nandakandamanda
How do they get to Tokyo Station first?
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Apsara
I am glad that you people who want to see such traditions abolished don't run the place. Which other old traditions would you like to see disappear? Festivals? Weddings? Christmas? What a boring place the world would be if we got rid of all the old traditions and ceremonies.
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Sarge
"How do they get to Tokyo Station first?"
By limousine, of course.
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Madara
Hiyaaa horsey!says the new ambassador....
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NeoJamal
[quote]"How do they get to Tokyo Station first?"
By limousine, of course.[/quote]
BLASPHEMY! no public servant should afford to waste their precious tax payer money to run a limo through the Kanto Highway! Let me tell you how an upstanding ambassador would make his/her way into the Capital. First he will hop on a Sobu Rapid and if he encounters a frail old lady boarding the fully packed train at Shisui, he will give his seat up and stand all the way to Tokyo.
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Sarge
NeoJamal - Har!
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lolkittykitty
Now I know why the planes are taking off/landing like crazy every 3 minutes or so here in Chiba. Bansai to the new mysterious ambassador.
I know im a paranoid! lol!!!
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usaexpat
Great picture though, I like it when traditions are preserved. The ambassador however would probably prefer an air conditioned limo however.
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ThonTaddeo
"Gaikoku", of course. Did you want some finer distinction?
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cosmo13
(What a boring place the world would be if we got rid of all the old traditions and ceremonies.) I agree with that one
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Fadamor
And I agree it doesn't matter which ambassador is inside the carriage considering almost no ambassador chooses the limo-option. You want to know which ambassador is inside? It's yours... or was at some time or another.
And for those of you complaining about the "European" look, blame your ancestors for imposing so many Western ideas on Japan back in the Meiji era.
Personally, I'm all for hanging onto whatever traditions you have left. If some people had their way, everybody in the world would only do things their way and no country would be unique.
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PepinGalarga
Here is the "original" article in Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kokyo
"It is the privilege of each new ambassador arriving at the palace to hand in his accreditation to the emperor to be picked up from Tokyo Station either in a limousine or the carriage. Although the carriage is not as comfortable as the modern limousine, most chose the carriage."
Sound strikingly similar to the first draft here? Obviously i got too much free time on my hands rofl.
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