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| Japanese emperor: Akihito set for first abdication in 200 years | Japanese emperor: Akihito set for first abdication in 200 years |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Japanese emperor Akihito is set to step down from the throne on Tuesday, which will make him the first monarch to abdicate in more than 200 years. | Japanese emperor Akihito is set to step down from the throne on Tuesday, which will make him the first monarch to abdicate in more than 200 years. |
| The 85-year-old has been given legal permission to abdicate after saying he felt unable to fulfil his role because of his age and declining health. | The 85-year-old has been given legal permission to abdicate after saying he felt unable to fulfil his role because of his age and declining health. |
| His son, Crown Prince Naruhito, will ascend the Chrysanthemum throne the next day, beginning a new era. | His son, Crown Prince Naruhito, will ascend the Chrysanthemum throne the next day, beginning a new era. |
| The emperor in Japan holds no political power but serves as a national symbol. | The emperor in Japan holds no political power but serves as a national symbol. |
| Emperor Akihito's reign has been marked by his interactions with people suffering from disease and disaster, which has endeared him in the hearts of many Japanese people. | Emperor Akihito's reign has been marked by his interactions with people suffering from disease and disaster, which has endeared him in the hearts of many Japanese people. |
| Why did the emperor decide to abdicate? | Why did the emperor decide to abdicate? |
| Akihito will be the first Japanese monarch to voluntarily relinquish the throne since 1817. | Akihito will be the first Japanese monarch to voluntarily relinquish the throne since 1817. |
| The 85-year-old said in a rare address in 2016 that he feared his age would make it hard for him to carry out his duties and strongly hinted that he wanted to stand down. | |
| "When I consider that my fitness level is gradually declining, I am worried that it may become difficult for me to carry out my duties as the symbol of the State," he had said then. | "When I consider that my fitness level is gradually declining, I am worried that it may become difficult for me to carry out my duties as the symbol of the State," he had said then. |
| Opinion polls showed that the vast majority of Japan sympathised with the emperor's desire to retire and a year later parliament enacted a law that made his abdication possible. | Opinion polls showed that the vast majority of Japan sympathised with the emperor's desire to retire and a year later parliament enacted a law that made his abdication possible. |
| His son, Crown Prince Naruhito, will take his place. | His son, Crown Prince Naruhito, will take his place. |
| What will happen at the abdication ceremony? | What will happen at the abdication ceremony? |
| The Taiirei-Seiden-nogi, or Ceremony of the Abdication of His Majesty the Emperor, is expected to take place at the Matsu-no-Ma state room in the Imperial Palace but much of it will be behind closed doors. | The Taiirei-Seiden-nogi, or Ceremony of the Abdication of His Majesty the Emperor, is expected to take place at the Matsu-no-Ma state room in the Imperial Palace but much of it will be behind closed doors. |
| The ceremony will begin at 17:00 local time (08:00 GMT) with Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko entering the room. Over 330 attendants will also be present. | The ceremony will begin at 17:00 local time (08:00 GMT) with Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko entering the room. Over 330 attendants will also be present. |
| According to broadcaster NHK, the ceremony will last around 10 minutes. | According to broadcaster NHK, the ceremony will last around 10 minutes. |
| The ceremony will end with Akihito delivering his final address as emperor, though he will technically remain emperor until midnight. | The ceremony will end with Akihito delivering his final address as emperor, though he will technically remain emperor until midnight. |
| On Wednesday morning, Crown Prince Naruhito will inherit the Imperial Treasures in his first ritual as emperor. | On Wednesday morning, Crown Prince Naruhito will inherit the Imperial Treasures in his first ritual as emperor. |
| Who is the crown prince? | Who is the crown prince? |
| Prince Naruhito is set to become Japan's 126th emperor - and will officially lead the country into the new Reiwa era. It will mark the end of the current Heisei era, which began when Akihito ascended the throne in 1989. | Prince Naruhito is set to become Japan's 126th emperor - and will officially lead the country into the new Reiwa era. It will mark the end of the current Heisei era, which began when Akihito ascended the throne in 1989. |
| The 59-year-old Naruhito was educated in Oxford and become crown prince at the age of 28. | The 59-year-old Naruhito was educated in Oxford and become crown prince at the age of 28. |
| In 1986, he reportedly met his wife Crown Princess Masako Owada at a tea party. They married in 1993. | In 1986, he reportedly met his wife Crown Princess Masako Owada at a tea party. They married in 1993. |
| The couple's only child, Princess Aiko, was born in 2001. However, Japan's current law restricts females from inheriting the throne so she is not heir to the throne. | The couple's only child, Princess Aiko, was born in 2001. However, Japan's current law restricts females from inheriting the throne so she is not heir to the throne. |
| Her uncle Prince Fumihito is first in line to the throne followed by her cousin, 12-year-old Prince Hisahito. | Her uncle Prince Fumihito is first in line to the throne followed by her cousin, 12-year-old Prince Hisahito. |
| How are Japanese people marking the handover? | How are Japanese people marking the handover? |
| The country's Golden Week break - its annual spring holiday - has been extended to a record 10 days this year to mark the ascension of the new emperor. | The country's Golden Week break - its annual spring holiday - has been extended to a record 10 days this year to mark the ascension of the new emperor. |
| The abdication is seen as an almost festive affair, in contrast to when Emperor Akihito succeeded his father 30 years ago following his death - the country was then in mourning. | The abdication is seen as an almost festive affair, in contrast to when Emperor Akihito succeeded his father 30 years ago following his death - the country was then in mourning. |
| This time, people will be going on holidays, flocking to cinemas, or staying at home and watching the abdication and ascension ceremonies- which will both be live streamed. | This time, people will be going on holidays, flocking to cinemas, or staying at home and watching the abdication and ascension ceremonies- which will both be live streamed. |
| This will be the first time anyone alive will get to watch an abdication ceremony. | This will be the first time anyone alive will get to watch an abdication ceremony. |
| It will also be the second ever televised coronation. Emperor Akihito's ascension to the throne was shown live on TV some 30 years ago. | It will also be the second ever televised coronation. Emperor Akihito's ascension to the throne was shown live on TV some 30 years ago. |
| Why is the Japanese monarchy important? | Why is the Japanese monarchy important? |
| It's the oldest continuing hereditary monarchy in the world. Legends date it back to about 600 BC. | It's the oldest continuing hereditary monarchy in the world. Legends date it back to about 600 BC. |
| In fact, Japanese emperors used to be seen as gods, but the country's previous emperor Hirohito - the father of Akihito - publicly renounced his divinity at the end of World War Two, as part of Japan's surrender. | In fact, Japanese emperors used to be seen as gods, but the country's previous emperor Hirohito - the father of Akihito - publicly renounced his divinity at the end of World War Two, as part of Japan's surrender. |
| But it was Emperor Akihito who helped repair the damage to Japan's reputation after the war. | But it was Emperor Akihito who helped repair the damage to Japan's reputation after the war. |
| He is known for removing the barrier between the people and the monarchy. | He is known for removing the barrier between the people and the monarchy. |
| Emperors rarely ever interacted with the public, but Akihito redefined the role - and has come to be known for his compassion with survivors of disasters. | Emperors rarely ever interacted with the public, but Akihito redefined the role - and has come to be known for his compassion with survivors of disasters. |
| In 1991, two years after he ascended the throne, Akihito and the empress broke with norms and kneeled down to speak to people affected by a volcanic eruption in Nagasaki and have continued to do so. | In 1991, two years after he ascended the throne, Akihito and the empress broke with norms and kneeled down to speak to people affected by a volcanic eruption in Nagasaki and have continued to do so. |
| Their interactions with people suffering from chronic diseases such as leprosy, who have been marginalised in Japan, were also a sharp departure from imperial families of the past. | Their interactions with people suffering from chronic diseases such as leprosy, who have been marginalised in Japan, were also a sharp departure from imperial families of the past. |
| Finally, Akihito also took up the role of diplomat becoming an unofficial ambassador for Japan and travelling extensively to other countries, something that Naruhito is expected to continue. | Finally, Akihito also took up the role of diplomat becoming an unofficial ambassador for Japan and travelling extensively to other countries, something that Naruhito is expected to continue. |