Akihito steps down as Emperor of Japan, Crown Prince Naruhito takes over

JAPAN – The 30 year reign of Emperor Akihito today came to a glorious end today when he abdicated his thrown and passed on the baton of leadership to his son, Crown Prince Naruhito.

He steped down at a very brief ceremony at the Imperial palace in Japan. It was a ceremony that had in attendance few dignataries while hundreds of people gather outside in the cold wheather to catch a glimpse of the ceremony.

Emperor Akihito is the first to abdicate in the last 200 years.He had hinted of this in 2016 but could not be effected since it was then illegal to abdicate.

But the emergence of a new law allows him to do so. He is steped down on account of old age and declining health. He is 85 years.

The ceremony was preceded with symbolic hanover of the sword, symbol of office and three sacred treasures which were ceremonially conveyed to the table before Emperor Akihito and his empress.

In his address at the occaision, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe thanked the emperor and the empress for the 30 year reign, adding that it was a reign characterised by peace and prosperity but that it was also marked by natural disasters.

In his brief speech, Emperor Akihito thanked the people of Japan for the privilege he had to occupy the Chrysanthemum throne, adding that as alluded to by the Prime Minister, his reign was characterised by peace and prosperity for Japan and that a new era will begin from tomorrow in Japan.

He took over from his father, Emperor Herohito in 1989, whose reign was characterised by warfare.