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| Japanese Emperor Akihito 'plans to abdicate' | Japanese Emperor Akihito 'plans to abdicate' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Japan's Emperor Akihito has announced his intention to abdicate in the coming years, public broadcaster NHK reports. | Japan's Emperor Akihito has announced his intention to abdicate in the coming years, public broadcaster NHK reports. |
| The 82-year-old, who has had health problems in recent years, reportedly does not wish to remain emperor if he has to reduce his official duties. | |
| He has been head of state for 27 years and his abdication would be an unprecedented move in modern Japan. | He has been head of state for 27 years and his abdication would be an unprecedented move in modern Japan. |
| His eldest son, Crown Prince Naruhito, 56, is next in line to succeed him to the Chrysanthemum Throne. | |
| Emperor Akihito succeeded his father, Hirohito, in 1989. He has been admired for distancing the monarchy from its association with the aggressive nationalism of World War Two. | |
| In 2011, he took the highly unusual step of making a televised national address following the devastating earthquake and tsunami at Fukushima. | |
| According the Associated Press news agency, the last succession from a living emperor was about 200 years ago. |