Japan to defer imperial parade over typhoon

Japan plans to postpone a major imperial parade celebrating the new emperor's ascension to the throne because of a devastating typhoon, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said yesterday. The parade was scheduled for October 22 as part of a series of events marking the official proclamation of Emperor Naruhito's enthronement. But "given the disaster situation, we are examining a postponement of the parade", Abe told reporters after he visited shelters in Fukushima to meet typhoon survivors.