Akihito, emperor of Japan for the past 30 years and the head of the world’s oldest continuous dynasty, will abdicate on April 30, at the age of 85. He’s the first emperor in two centuries to give up the throne.…
Japanese emperor stresses his peaceful reign ahead of abdication (DW)
More than 75,000 well-wishers have visited Tokyo’s Imperial Palace to celebrate Emperor Akihito’s 85th birthday. In an emotional address, he remembered those killed in World War II. Japan’s Emperor Akihito told his compatriots in a recorded address on Sunday he…
Japanese chief priest to quit after criticising Emperor Akihito
The chief priest at Japan’s controversial Yasukuni Shrine is to resign after making remarks highly critical of Emperor Akihito. In comments leaked to a magazine, Kunio Kohori said he believed Emperor Akihito was trying to destroy the shrine by not…