Japanese emperor Akihito abdicates at palace ceremony

Japanese Emperor Akihito, in his final remarks as his three-decade reign drew to a close on Tuesday, thanked the people for their support and expressed hope for a peaceful future.

Speaking at a brief ceremony in the state room of the imperial palace a day before his eldest son, Naruhito, takes his place as the new occupant of the chrysanthemum throne, the 85-year-old Akihito said he had spent the 30 years of his reign performing his duties with “deep respect and love for the people”.

He said he hoped the country’s future would be a “stable and fruitful one.

Akihito, who expressed a desire to abdicate in 2016, fearing his age would make it difficult for him to carry out public duties, entered the Matsu no Ma (Hall of Pine) at the imperial palace early on Tuesday evening and relinquished his title in a short ceremony that was broadcast live on TV.

Earlier the same day, the first Japanese monarch to spend his entire reign stripped of political influence under the country’s postwar constitution, reported his abdication to his ancestors and the Shinto gods at sacred spots inside the imperial palace grounds in Tokyo.

They include the sun goddess Amaterasu Omikami, from whom, according to mythology, the 2,600-year imperial line is descended.

In the evening ceremony, his reign ended with the symbolic return of two of the “three sacred treasures” – a sword and a jewel – that were placed on stands by palace officials along with the state and privy seals.

Little is known about the regalia, which remained inside boxes throughout the ceremony.

About 300 people attended the ceremony and it was broadcast live on television.

Those at the abdication ceremony included Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Crown Prince Naruhito and Crown Princess Masako, as well as the heads of both houses of parliament and Supreme Court justices.

Abe announced the abdication, followed by remarks from Akihito, whose 30-year reign – known as Heisei (achieving peace) – will officially come to an end at midnight on Tuesday.

Naruhito will ascend the throne on Wednesday morning in a similarly brief ceremony, during which he will “inherit” the imperial regalia before making his first public statement as emperor.

With his accession, the new imperial era, named Reiwa (beautiful harmony), will begin.