Advertisement
World & Nation

Japanese Emperor Akihito steps down

Japanese Emperor Akihito, left, and his wife, Empress Michiko, second from left, are joined by Crown Prince Naruhito, second from right, and his wife, Crown Princess Masako, right, and other members of the royal familily inside the Matsu-no-Ma state room in the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on Tuesday. Emperor Akihito has formally stepped down, the first abdication in more than 200 years in the world's oldest monarchy.

Japanese Emperor Akihito, left, and his wife, Empress Michiko, second from left, are joined by Crown Prince Naruhito, second from right, and his wife, Crown Princess Masako, right, and other members of the royal familily inside the Matsu-no-Ma state room in the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on Tuesday. Emperor Akihito has formally stepped down, the first abdication in more than 200 years in the world’s oldest monarchy.

  (AFP / Getty Images)

Share

Japan’s 85-year-old Emperor Akihito became the first Japanese emperor to abdicate in more than 200 years on Tuesday, ending his three-decade reign and making way for his son, Crown Prince Naruhito, to take the imperial throne.

Japanese Emperor Akihito steps down

Japanese Emperor Akihito, left, and his wife, Empress Michiko, listen to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe as he delivers a speech during the abdication ceremony of Emperor Akihito on Tuesday.

  (AFP / Getty Images)

Japanese Emperor Akihito steps down

Japanese Emperor Akihito, left, hands over his abdication statement to an official during a ceremony inside the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on Tuesday.

  (AFP/ Getty Images)

Japanese Emperor Akihito steps down

People gather outside the Imperial Palace in Tokyo as the abdication ceremony for Japan’s Emperor Akihito takes place on Tuesday.

  (Charly Triballeau / AFP / Getty Images)

Japanese Emperor Akihito steps down

Spectators take photographs of the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on Tuesday as the country’s 85-year-old Emperor Akihito abdicates his throne. Akihito, who was crowned emperor three decades ago, is the first Japanese emperor to abdicate in more than 200 years.

  (Tomohiro Ohsumi / Getty Images)

Japanese Emperor Akihito steps down

Japan’s Crown Prince Naruhito and Crown Princess Masako arrive at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on Tuesday, ahead of Emperor Akihito’s abdication ceremony.

  (Kazuhiro Nogi / AFP / Getty Images)

Japanese Emperor Akihito steps down

People cheer as Japan’s Crown Prince Naruhito and Crown Princess Masako arrive at the Imperial Palace to attend the ceremony of Emperor Akihito’s abdication.

  (Naoya Osato / Associated Press)

Japanese Emperor Akihito steps down

Japanese police officers hold back crowds of people in Tokyo’s Shibuya district on the day of Emperor Akihito’s abdication.

  (Charly Triballeau / AFP / Getty Images)

Japanese Emperor Akihito steps down

Crowds of people gather in the rain in Tokyo to witness the end of the Heisei Era in Japan and usher in the Reiwa Era. Japan’s new emperor, Naruhito, faces the delicate task of balancing tradition within the world’s oldest monarchy with his own modern values.

  (Charly Triballeau / AFP/Getty Images)

World & Nation

More From the Los Angeles Times

Advertisement