Japan: Emperor Akihito Will Abdicate April 30 2019

The Japanese Prime Minister Abe says Emperor Akihito will abdicate on April 30th, 2019 when he is 85.

Emperor Akihito (Tsugu Akihito) came to the throne in 1989 when his father , Emperor Hirohito died.

Akihito is a member of the oldest imperial family in the world. Japan claims he is the 125th direct descendant of Japan’s first legendary Emperor Jimmu.

The Emperor broke with 1,500 years of tradition when he married Empress Michiko who was a commoner. She was the daughter of a wealthy businessman.