Akihito thanked the people for their efforts to achieve his wish to abdicate
Japan’s Emperor Akihito marked his 84th birthday Saturday with a pledge to fulfill his duties until the day of his abdication in 2019, and to prepare for “passing the torch to the next era.”
Akihito waved to thousands of well-wishers from a balcony of the royal palace. He was to attend birthday celebrations at the palace later Saturday.
In his annual birthday comment at a news conference earlier this week and released Saturday, Akihito thanked the people for putting together thoughts and efforts to achieve his abdication wish that had surprised the nation.
Akihito still has a busy schedule, signing official documents, receiving foreign dignitaries and traveling to disaster-hit areas. And he said he will keep working until April 30,2019, the day he is scheduled to abdicate.
“Over the remaining days, I continue to carry out my duties as the symbol of the state,” Akihito said. “I would like to make preparations for passing the torch to the next era, together with the people concerned.”
Akihito last year expressed his wish to abdicate, citing his age and health as a concern. He ascended the throne at the age of 56 in January 1989, after the death of his father, Emperor Hirohito, beginning the Heisei Era.
