as japan's emperor naruhito is enthroned this week, we look at the role of the empress masako.t's 7am in singapore, midnight in london and 7am in hong kong, where the working week is just getting under way. it follows another weekend of mass protests. organisers say as many as 350,000 people took part in the demonstrations, which were held without official permission. police fired teargas and water canon, to try to clear the streets. nick beake reports from the protests in hong kong. they were told they weren't allowed to march today. they were threatened with prison if they wore a mask. and they were warned by china's leader there would be broken bones for those who try to break up his country. but this is a pro—democracy movement that believes the world is on its side and it's not backing down. we are here to fight for freedom and we are not scared about the chinese communist party. we want our freedom and human rights. but once again, peaceful protest gave way to petrol bombs, with police stations under attack. this is what eventually cleared the hardcore activists, who then

straightaway, masako was underan diplomat.e to produce a male heir. this was a public challenge for the carpal. masako had public challenge for the carpal. masa ko had a public challenge for the carpal. masako had a miscarriage in 1999 and in 2001 they had the first and only child, a girl. japan nearly changed its laws to allow women to inherit the throne but then emperor naruhito ‘s younger brother had a son dick her husband announced that she was having difficulties adjusting to the imperial life. it is a huge to buda talk about mental health injapan but they then disappeared for over a decade. recently we have seen much more of her and recently we have seen much more of herand in may recently we have seen much more of her and in may she became new empress. this is her talking to foreign leaders such as president trump without an interpreter. she still has all those rules and traditions to follow but at least she is finally getting to use her language and diplomacy skills in her new role. it is an ancient role in modern time

straightaway, masako was under enormous pressure to produce a male heir.carriage in 1999 and in 2001 they had their first and only child, a girl. japan nearly changed its laws to allow women to inherit the throne but then emperor naruhito's younger brother had a son. her husband announced that she was having difficulties adjusting to the imperial life. it is a huge taboo to talk about mental health injapan but they then disappeared for over a decade. recently we have seen much more of her and in may she became new empress. this is her talking to foreign leaders such as president trump without an interpreter. she still has all those rules and traditions to follow but at least she is finally getting to use her language and diplomacy skills in her new role. it is an ancient role in modern times but it looks like masako and be a very different empress. here's our briefing on some of the key events happening later. we begin in london where wikilea ks founder julila assange will appear at an extradition hearing at westminster magistrates court. in belfast, the n

broad range of experience for japanese royalty back in japan he would and one of the affection of masako a lot of harvard an oxford educated diplomat she reluctantly agreed to abandon her career to marry in 1993 but over the years masako battled depression and was eventually diagnosed with adjustment disorder now he took promised to protect her with all his might from the strains of royal life. the pair had a baby girl princess i call in 2001 the devoted father narrow he too was often seen attending his school and sporting events under the current law as a girl i call cannot be next in line. and there he just brother a crown prince a kiss you know currently holds that title. but for now all the attention remains on the new emperor nero hitto says he wants to carry on his father's devotion to peace and compassion for the people he ascends the throne as japan's 126 sempra marking the start of a new imperial era are known as re wa out. now more protests in hong kong have been staged in recent days some of them violent turn for months one man has put himself in the middle of the clashes he w

emperor naruhito and empress masako are descending in their kimonos and robes.e new emperor. any minute now, we will probably see the japanese prime minister shinzo abe leading the guest in a call of buns a. for many traditionalists in japan, this today, this is the real moment and they will be very excited about this. this is really the moment when you see the full regalia of the japanese monarchy, the japanese imperial household and his very traditional shinzo abe ceremony that happens today, proclaiming the new emperor. and i also say that we have been standing here in the rain, the miserable weather and now the sun is out and the sun goddess is the most important to religion, isn't it? out and the sun goddess is the most important to religion, isn't mm is and there is some controversy around this because under the postwar constitution in japan, religion and the imperial household is supposed to be completely separate. some people are saying this ceremony today should not be paid for with public funds, it should be a private thing because it isa should be a p

educated diplomat she reluctantly agreed to abandon her career to marry in 1993 but over the years masako battled depression and was eventually diagnosed with adjustment disorder there he promised to protect her with all his might from the strains of royal life. the pair had a baby girl princess i go in 2001 the devoted father narrow he was often seen attending his school and sporting events under the current law as a girl i cannot be next in line. narrow he just brother crown prince currently holds that title. but for now all the attention remains on the new emperor nero he says he wants to carry on his father's devotion to peace and compassion for the people he ascends the throne as japan's 126 sempra marking the start of a new imperial era are known as ray wa. and correspondent cut of the enough on choice in thailand is following the events in tokyo for us hi catalina good to see you tell us more about the ceremonies that have been taking place today where you can see that the emperor and the empress are having quite a busy schedule to date started already at 9 am with the ceremony whe

but today's event is really to introduce emperor naruhito and empress masako to the world.guests are expected to attend the event later today, starting at 1:00pm local time, including many foreign guests who have flown in just to attend this event. there was a lot of speculation who might attend the event, even as late as yesterday there were reports that carrie lam, the chief executive of hong kong, might attend. but in the latest list we were given yesterday her name wasn't on it. but there are many foreign royals, including prince charles who will be attending the ceremony today. and there will be a tea party and then a banquet hosted by the prime minister, shinzo abe. these are life pictures from inside the pine hall in the japanese palace. many find this the high point of the two menial transition. that it is said, goes back to 2000 yea rs. we that it is said, goes back to 2000 years. we are expected to see macro to in elaborate multilayered dress. including many foreign dignitaries and royals among the guests stop abortion has been decriminalised in northern ireland a