Breaking | Japan’s Emperor Akihito will abdicate on April 30, 2019, government announces
Akihito, who will be succeeded by Crown Prince Naruhito, will be the first emperor to abdicate the Chrysanthemum Throne in about 200 years
Emperor Akihito, who has spent much of his nearly three decades on Japan’s throne seeking to soothe the wounds of the second world war, will step down on April 30, 2019 – the first abdication by a Japanese monarch in about two centuries.
A 10-member Imperial Household Council of lawmakers, royals and Supreme Court justices, chaired by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, agreed on the timing on Friday.
Akihito, who turns 84 on December 23 and has had heart surgery and treatment for prostate cancer, said in rare remarks last year that he feared age might make it hard for him to fulfil his duties.
He will be succeeded by his heir, 57-year-old Crown Prince Naruhito.
“This is the first abdication by an emperor in 200 years and the first under the [post-war] constitution,” Abe told reporters after announcing the recommendation. “I feel deep emotion that today, the opinion of the Imperial Household Council was smoothly decided and a big step was taken toward the imperial succession.”
The cabinet still has to sign off on the decision on the date, which it will likely do next week.