There has been an emperor in Japan for more than 15 centuries, making the Chrysanthemum Throne the world’s oldest monarchy. On Tuesday, Emperor Akihito stepped down, yielding to his eldest son in the first abdication in 200 years. In Episode 1 of this series, Akihito was the 12-year-old prince of a nation defeated in war. Isao Chinen was biding his time, deep inside the island cave, waiting for the dignitary to arrive. For six days, he and a fellow conspirator stayed out of sight, surviving on canned food, chocolate and biscuits.

Source: New York Times April 30, 2019 02:21 UTC