Japanese emperor begins historic abdication

AKIPRESS.COM - Japanese emperor Akihito is set to step down from the throne on Tuesday, which will make him the first monarch to abdicate in more than 200 years. The day's ceremonies began with several private rituals in the Imperial Palace, BBC reports.
The 85-year-old has been given legal permission to abdicate after saying he felt unable to fulfil his role because of his age and declining health.
His son, Crown Prince Naruhito, will ascend the Chrysanthemum throne the next day, beginning a new era.
The emperor in Japan holds no political power but serves as a national symbol.
Emperor Akihito's reign has been marked by his interactions with people suffering from disease and disaster, which have endeared him to many Japanese people.
In the first private ceremonies of the day, the emperor reported his abdication to the mythological ancestors of Japan's imperial family.