The incumbent has cited age and illness for bidding farewell to the throne.
Japan’s Emperor Akihito will step down from the Chrysanthemum Throne on Tuesday, the first abdication in the world’s oldest imperial family for two centuries, ending 30 years of his popular reign and ushering in a new era.
The abdication brings down the curtain on the current “Heisei” era, which started in January 1989 at the height of Japan’s economic boom, and kicks off a new imperial era called “Reiwa” meaning “beautiful harmony”. Akihito was born in 1933 just as Japan was embarking on its militaristic sweep across Asia, and was 11 when the war ended in defeat. He listened in tears on August 15, 1945 as Hirohito made a radio address — the first ever by an emperor — to announce the shock loss.
He and Empress Michiko won widespread plaudits with their reaction to Japan’s devastating 2011 earthquake, tsunami and nuclear meltdown, visiting victims in the radioactive Fukushima province just two months after the disaster. There is no republican movement to speak of in Japan and the emperor and the royal family enjoy the admiration of the vast majority of the country.There are no more eligible male heirs after the 12-year-old son of Crown Prince Naruhito’s younger brother Akishino.The idea of letting women ascend the throne is popular with ordinary Japanese, but it is vehemently opposed by traditionalists.
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