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Lakewood Times

Lakewood Times

Lakewood Times

    Emperor Akihito becomes first Japanese monarch to abdicate in 200 years

    Emperor Akihito becomes first Japanese monarch to abdicate in 200 years

    Akihito, along with Empress Michiko and the Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, attended a short ceremony at 5 p.m. local time (4 a.m. ET) in the Matsu-no-Ma stateroom of the Imperial Palace.

    This is so important that there were people waiting outside the palace while it was raining. In a rare instance of speaking live on television, the ruler said that he had performed his duties as the emperor with a “deep sense of trust and respect” for the Japanese people.

    Akihito also said, “I consider myself most fortunate to have been able to do so,” he said at the small abdication ceremony.

    “I sincerely wish, together with the Empress, that the Reiwa era, which begins tomorrow, will be a stable and fruitful one.”
    The much-loved Akihito was really one with his people and he will be remembered for connecting with his public in a way that no other Japanese monarch has done and expressing “deep remorse” for the country’s actions during World War II.
    A student at Lakewood High School Tyler Zidick said,” Hopefully Japan can keep peace with a new family coming to power.”
    He stepped down because of health reason, after having heart surgery and overcoming prostate cancer in recent years, the monarch decided to step down.
    In 2016 he said, “I am worried that it may become difficult for me to carry out my duties as the symbol of the state with my whole being, as I have done until now.” It was seen as a plea to Japan’s lawmakers to change the law to allow him to retire. The following year, they did.
    Emperor Naruhito will be taking over and the people are expecting him to be great. He has said he will bring the world’s oldest monarch closer to the people.
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