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| Japanese emperor makes last new year appearance before abdication | Japanese emperor makes last new year appearance before abdication |
| (14 days later) | |
| Tens of thousands of people gathered in Tokyo for Emperor Akihito’s final new year appearance of his reign months before he abdicates. | Tens of thousands of people gathered in Tokyo for Emperor Akihito’s final new year appearance of his reign months before he abdicates. |
| “I am truly happy to celebrate the new year with all of you under such cloudless skies,” he told the crowd from a balcony at the Imperial Palace on Wednesday. | “I am truly happy to celebrate the new year with all of you under such cloudless skies,” he told the crowd from a balcony at the Imperial Palace on Wednesday. |
| Akihito, 85, makes annual new year appearances alongside his wife, Empress Michiko, and other family members to wish peace for the nation. He was scheduled to make five appearances on Wednesday. | Akihito, 85, makes annual new year appearances alongside his wife, Empress Michiko, and other family members to wish peace for the nation. He was scheduled to make five appearances on Wednesday. |
| Japanese media reported that a record crowd of more than 90,000 people had gathered by early afternoon. Many had been waiting since early in the morning. | Japanese media reported that a record crowd of more than 90,000 people had gathered by early afternoon. Many had been waiting since early in the morning. |
| Akihito succeeded his father, the wartime emperor Hirohito, in 1989, and will abdicate on 30 April with his eldest son ascending to the Chrysanthemum throne. | Akihito succeeded his father, the wartime emperor Hirohito, in 1989, and will abdicate on 30 April with his eldest son ascending to the Chrysanthemum throne. |
| Japan’s imperial family is far more cloistered than its western counterparts, and Hirohito was once viewed as a god. Akihito strove to become a more accessible emperor. He was the first to marry a commoner, courting Michiko on the tennis courts. Both of his sons have married commoners. | Japan’s imperial family is far more cloistered than its western counterparts, and Hirohito was once viewed as a god. Akihito strove to become a more accessible emperor. He was the first to marry a commoner, courting Michiko on the tennis courts. Both of his sons have married commoners. |
| His abdication is also a rarity. Akihito announced his desire to step down in a video message, citing a worry about how well he could perform his duties as his health declined. | His abdication is also a rarity. Akihito announced his desire to step down in a video message, citing a worry about how well he could perform his duties as his health declined. |
| Akihito appeared to wobble during a palace event this week to greet foreign dignitaries. Michiko reached out and held up his arm with hers. | Akihito appeared to wobble during a palace event this week to greet foreign dignitaries. Michiko reached out and held up his arm with hers. |
| Akihito’s three-decade reign is known in Japan as Heisei, the first character of which means “peace”. A name for the new era will be chosen with much fanfare later this year. | Akihito’s three-decade reign is known in Japan as Heisei, the first character of which means “peace”. A name for the new era will be chosen with much fanfare later this year. |
| Crown Prince Naruhito appeared on the balcony with his wife, Masako. She has skipped some events over the years due to what palace officials have described as a stress-related illness. | Crown Prince Naruhito appeared on the balcony with his wife, Masako. She has skipped some events over the years due to what palace officials have described as a stress-related illness. |
| The public is closely watching to see how the younger couple might bring openness to a role that holds no political power but is widely recognised as a cultural and emotional symbol for Japan. | The public is closely watching to see how the younger couple might bring openness to a role that holds no political power but is widely recognised as a cultural and emotional symbol for Japan. |
| Naruhito’s younger brother and his family are also expected to play a key role. The Japanese throne is inherited only by male heirs, and Naruhito’s only child is a daughter. Prince Akishino and his young son are next in the line of succession after Naruhito. | Naruhito’s younger brother and his family are also expected to play a key role. The Japanese throne is inherited only by male heirs, and Naruhito’s only child is a daughter. Prince Akishino and his young son are next in the line of succession after Naruhito. |
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