The sword, Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi, is stored at the Atsuta Shrine. Both are in central Japan. The third treasure, a jewel called Yasakani-no-Magatama, is stored at the Imperial Palace.

TOKYO — It looked a little lonely up there. During the short, solemn ceremony on Wednesday in which the new emperor of Japan, Naruhito, 59, accepted the sacred sword, jewels and seals that ...