Japan emperor to abdicate on April 30, 2019

Japan's Emperor Akihito will step down on April 30, 2019, the prime minister announced yesterday, the first retirement in more than two centuries in the world's oldest imperial family.

Shinzo Abe said he was "deeply moved" at the "smooth decision" taken at a special meeting of the Imperial Council to decide on the date for the popular 83-year-old to step down for health reasons.

Akihito's eldest son, 57-year-old Crown Prince Naruhito, is expected to ascend the Chrysanthemum Throne the next day.

The news was splashed across the front pages of the evening papers, with the Sankei Shimbun distributing a special abdication edition.

Akihito is the 125th person to sit on the Chrysanthemum Throne since Emperor Jimmu, said to be a descendant of the legendary sun goddess Amaterasu.a