The 85-year-old Akihito ends his three-decade reign on Tuesday as his son Crown Prince Naruhito will ascend the Chrysanthemum throne on Wednesday. Akihito’s reign runs through midnight Tuesday, when his son, Crown Prince Naruhito, becomes the new emperor. Akihito announced Tuesday that he is abdicating, handing the Chrysanthemum throne to Crown Prince Naruhito. ___5:15 p.m.Japan’s Emperor Akihito has announced at a ceremony that he is abdicating, in his final official address to his people. ___3:45 p.m.Japanese people are visiting shrines and temples and eating dinners marking the end of the Heisei era as Emperor Akihito abdicates.

Source: Washington Post April 30, 2019 06:36 UTC