Japan's much-loved Emperor Akihito has abdicated, bringing a reign spanning three decades to a close.
His decision to step down heralds an end to the Heisei era, which translates to “achieving peace”.
The 85-year-old monarch today gave his final address at a historic ceremony in Tokyo, as he passes the Chrysantheum Throne to his son, Crown Prince Naruhito.
Your key questions on the abdication are answered below.
Why is it such a historic occasion?
Emperor Akihito is the first Japanese monarch to step down in more than 200 years.
The last ruler to do so was Emperor Kōkaku, fittingly the founder of Akihito’s dynastic imperial branch, in 1817.
Under Japan's Imperial House Law, succession is virtually always posthumous. However, in 2016, the emperor expressed his desire to abdicate, explaining in a rare public address that he felt his ill health could compromise his ability to fulfil his duties.
Shinzo Abe's government enacted a one-off law in order to enable the procedure.
His message was well-received by the Japanese people and the abdication won widespread support, opinion polls suggested.
While citizens largely sympathised with Akihito’s wish to step down, some conservative politicians worried that it could lead to reform of the imperial system, potentially paving the way for a female emperor.
How will his reign be remembered?
Japan is a very different country to the one Akihito inherited from his father, Hirohito, who ruled during World War II and the 1937 invasion of the Republic of China.
Emperor Hirohito was the last of Japan’s emperors to be regarded as a divine being. After WWII, under US occupation, the monarchy was forced to renounce its godly status and withdraw from political matters.
While Akihito’s presidency has been largely symbolic as a result, he took unprecedented steps to bridge the previously large gap between the monarchy and the people.
In 2011, after Japan was struck by a deadly hurricane and tsunami, Emperor Akihito gave the nation’s first royal televised address in an attempt to salve the country’s wounds. He and his wife subsequently travelled around the affected areas, meeting with survivors in the midst of the aftermath.
Akihito’s diplomatic efforts were also seen to help repair Japan’s damaged reputation post-WWII, when as many as 200,000 women, mostly from Korea, were driven into sex slavery by Japanese soldiers.
He became the first ruler to marry a commoner, Empress Michiko. Upon his death, he will break with the tradition of his ancestors to be cremated.
Why is Akihito abdicating?
While Akihito cited ill health and old age as the main factor in his decision to step down, there are possibly deeper motivations.
Some experts speculated whether he wishes to keep the emperor’s presence visible, rather than allow it to become veiled and used politically, as it was during his father’s wartime reign. Other believe that he wishes to smooth the transition period for his son.
What happens during the ceremony?
On Tuesday, the emperor visited the Shinto shrine of Kashikodokoro, to inform his spiritual ancestors of his plans.
The shrine is the resting place of the goddess Amaterasu, believed to the imperial family’s direct ancestress.
His abdication ceremony took place in the afternoon at the Imperial Palace, in front of around 300 officials including Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
He is technically still the emperor until midnight, when his Heisei era officially comes to an end.
At this point his son Naruhito’s era will begin. It will be called Reiwa (beautiful harmony), a term chosen from Japanese poetry.
On Wednesday, in a ceremony attended only by government officials and adult male royals, his son Naruhito will receive the Imperial regalia, including the sword and the jewel, as proof of his ascension to the throne.
How will Japan be celebrating?
Although the rituals will be off-limits to the public, the succession has spread festivity across Japan and the country’s annual spring holiday, the Golden Week Break, has been extended to 10 days in celebration of the occasion.
What is known about his successor?
Naruhito is the eldest of Akihito’s two sons. In his personal life he is a musician and an avid hiker.
The 59-year-old was educated at Oxford, after studying history at Gakushuin University, a school formerly for aristocrats.
His wife, Masako, a Harvard-educated former diplomat, is reportedly recovering from a stress-induced condition she developed after giving birth to their daughter and only child, Aiko, amid pressure to produce a male heir.
While Naruhito will become Japan’s 126th emperor, it is unclear who will eventually succeed him.
Currently, the throne will pass to the future emperor Naruhito’s young nephew, Hisahito, however most of the Japanese public support the introduction of female succession.
Discussions on changing the law to allow female succession quickly ended with Hisahito’s birth, but they are expected to resume, with Akihito’s abdication raising concerns about the royal family’s future.
Additional reporting by AP
