![Japan's Emperor Akihito waves to well-wishers during a public appearance for New Year celebrations at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, Japan, January 2, 2019. REUTERS/Issei Kato Stock Photo - Alamy Japan's Emperor Akihito waves to well-wishers during a public appearance for New Year celebrations at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, Japan, January 2, 2019. REUTERS/Issei Kato Stock Photo - Alamy](https://c8.alamy.com/comp/2CHKKTJ/japans-emperor-akihito-waves-to-well-wishers-during-a-public-appearance-for-new-year-celebrations-at-the-imperial-palace-in-tokyo-japan-january-2-2019-reutersissei-kato-2CHKKTJ.jpg)
Japan's Emperor Akihito waves to well-wishers during a public appearance for New Year celebrations at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, Japan, January 2, 2019. REUTERS/Issei Kato Stock Photo - Alamy
![Departing Japanese Emperor Akihito thanks the people, prays for peace | Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and Departing Japanese Emperor Akihito thanks the people, prays for peace | Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and](https://thaipbs-world.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/thaipbsworld/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/30163210/111.png)
Departing Japanese Emperor Akihito thanks the people, prays for peace | Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and
![Emperor Akihito's 30-year reign: A look back at his time on the throne as Japan readies itself for a new era | The Independent | The Independent Emperor Akihito's 30-year reign: A look back at his time on the throne as Japan readies itself for a new era | The Independent | The Independent](https://static.independent.co.uk/s3fs-public/thumbnails/image/2019/04/24/13/Emperor-Akihito-reign-1.jpg?quality=75&width=640&auto=webp)
Emperor Akihito's 30-year reign: A look back at his time on the throne as Japan readies itself for a new era | The Independent | The Independent
![Emperor Akihito's 30-year reign: A look back at his time on the throne as Japan readies itself for a new era | The Independent | The Independent Emperor Akihito's 30-year reign: A look back at his time on the throne as Japan readies itself for a new era | The Independent | The Independent](https://static.independent.co.uk/s3fs-public/thumbnails/image/2019/04/24/13/Emperor-Akihito-reign-48.jpg?quality=75&width=640&auto=webp)
Emperor Akihito's 30-year reign: A look back at his time on the throne as Japan readies itself for a new era | The Independent | The Independent
![Japanese Emperor Akihito and wife mark 60 years of marriage ahead of abdication, Asia News - AsiaOne Japanese Emperor Akihito and wife mark 60 years of marriage ahead of abdication, Asia News - AsiaOne](https://www.asiaone.com/sites/default/files/original_images/May2019/100419_akihito_afp.jpg)