Japanese Emperor Akihito to abdicate after three decades on throne

Japanese Emperor Akihito reported his abdication to a Shinto sun goddess in a ritual at the Imperial Palace on Tuesday, starting a day of ceremonies to end a three decade reign in which he sought to ease painful memories of World War Two and bring the monarchy closer to people. Akihito, 85, was the first Japanese monarch to take the throne under a post-war constitution that defines the emperor as a symbol of the people without political power. His abdication is the first in two centuries.

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Japanese Emperor Akihito reported his abdication to a Shinto sun goddess in a ritual at the Imperial Palace on Tuesday, starting a day of ceremonies to end a three decade reign in which he sought to ease painful memories of World War Two and bring the monarchy closer to people. Akihito, 85, was the first Japanese monarch to take the throne under a post-war constitution that defines the emperor as a symbol of the people without political power. His abdication is the first in two centuries.