JAPANESE Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako rode through central Tokyo yesterday in a motorcade to mark this year’s imperial succession as well-wishers waved national flags and held up mobile phones for snapshots of the smiling royal couple.

Thousands of people gathered in Tokyo ahead of the rare open-top car parade, with heavy security in place for the event.

The motorcade in the afternoon is one of the final public events associated with Naruhito’s assumption of the throne following his father Akihito’s abdication earlier this year.

The couple’s first parade since their marriage in 1993 was originally scheduled for Oct. 22 as part of a series of events marking the official proclamation of Emperor Naruhito’s enthronement.

But the government rescheduled the parade after nearly 80 people were killed in Typhoon Hagibis, which slammed into Japan in mid October, causing widespread damage.

(SD-Agencies)