The new Emperor Naruhito attended the "Sokui-go-Choken-no-gi" ceremony in the "Matsu no Ma" state room of the Japanese Imperial Palace and gave his first speech as emperor on May 1.
The new emperor said: "When I think about the important responsibility I take on, I feel extremely solemn."
In his speech, the 126th Emperor of Japan also honored his father - Emperor Akihito - who deposed on April 30.
He said that Emperor Akihito "had carried out his duties most seriously for more than 30 years. The person who has prayed for world peace and the happiness of the people and shared the joy and sadness of the people at all times".
"I would like to express my sincere admiration and gratitude for the way the Emperor has handled the world as a symbol of the State and the people of Japan," said the new Emperor Naruhito.
He pledged that when he was crowned, he would follow the example of former Emperor Akihito, "always act according to the Constitution and fulfill his responsibility as a symbol of the State and the solidarity of the Japanese people, while always turning his thoughts towards the people and standing on the people's side".
"I sincerely wish for the happiness of the people, for further development of the country as well as for world peace" - he said.
The new Emperor Naruhito was born on February 23, 1960 and is the eldest son of former Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko. His mother was the first Japanese queen to come from the common land.
His name - Naruhito - was given by his grandfather - Emperor Hirohito or Emperor Chieu Hoa. His name is taken from the ancient Chinese Taoist book, which means "a man with wonderful good qualities," according to Mainichi.
Unlike his father - former Emperor Akihito, who was separated from his parents to be raised as a king according to royal custom, Emperor Naruhito, his younger brother - Prince Fumihito, 53 years old and younger sister Sayako Kuroda, 50 years old (who left the royal family after marrying a civilian in 2005) were raised directly by his parents since they were young.
The new Emperor attended the Gakushuin University Kindergarten in 1964 and attended the university's primary, secondary and high schools established in the 19th century, usually for the noble community.
"He was very polite, always calm and attractive in a very natural way," said Akihiko Imai, a friend of King Naruhito in high school.
In 1978, Emperor Naruhito majored in history at Gakushuin University. Before graduating in 1982, he wrote a graduation thesis on Medieval waterway transportation in the inland waters of western Japan.
Since 1983, he spent two years studying at Merton College, University of Oxford and spent his first time living in a dormitory. His research topic in Oxford is the history of transportation on the Thames River. He was awarded an honorary doctorate in Law by the university in 1991.
In January 1989, at the age of 28, he became the Crown Prince after Emperor Akihito ascended the throne.
He married Masako Owada, a diplomat raised in a family with a diplomatic tradition and raised in Russia and the United States, in June 1993. The only daughter of Emperor Naruhito and his wife, princess Aiko, 17, was born on December 1, 2001.
The new Japanese Emperor has many interests, including mountain climbing, running, tennis and skiing. He played viola in an orchestra while studying at Gakushuin University.
