The Emperor of Japan abdicates the Crysanthemum Throne:
Emperor Akihito abdicated the Japanese throne Tuesday, becoming the country’s first ruler in 200 years to step down from the role. Akihito, 85, spent Tuesday morning holding traditional private ceremonies at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo in which he symbolically announced his intention to abdicate to Amaterasu, the sun goddess.
That was followed by a more formal state occasion attended where he gave a televised speech, thanking people for their support during his 30-year reign, before ending with a solemn bow.
Akihito’s rule officially ends at midnight when his eldest son, Crown Prince Naruhito, will ascend to the Chrysanthemum Throne. The process will be officially recognised with a ceremony on Wednesday morning.
The move also spells the end of the Heisei imperial era and the start of the Reiwa era – meaning beautful harmony – which will last until the end of Naruhito’s reign.
I was in Japan for the end of the Showa era, as well as the peak of what later came to be known, a little ironically, as the Heisei Boom. My entire time there was colored by the Showa Emperor’s death watch, as every night on the news, a graphic would appear showing how much blood had been infused that day, and in total, which was more than a little comical despite the fact that it was a literal matter of life and death.
As a student of Japanese history, it’s more than a little interesting to me to observe that this is the first imperial abdication in two centuries. During the Heian period, emperors used to abdicate in their thirties, in order to prevent them from challenging the power of the Shogun. Wouldn’t it be fascinating if this is the first step towards a return to rule by shogun in Japan?