Japan's emperor Akihito leaves after a ritual to report his abdication to the throne, at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, on April 30, 2019. (AP)Emperor Akihito began his abdication rituals at a Shinto shrine on Tuesday morning as Japan embraces the end of his reign with reminiscence and hope for a new era. His reign runs through midnight when his son Crown Prince Naruhito becomes new emperor and his era begins. He is the first emperor in Japan's modern history whose era did not have a war. Akihito will be known as the emperor emeritus and will no longer have official duties after he abdicates.

Source: The Telegraph April 30, 2019 03:33 UTC