
Akihito: A Forceful Defender of Peace
Japan's Emperor Akihito is the country's first monarch in more than 200 years to abdicate, bringing an end to its Heisei era.
Akihito's decision to abdicate represents a sharp break from royal tradition for the world's oldest monarchy.
The last official abdication took place in 1817, and so when Akihito announced in 2016 his desire to step down due to old age and ill-health, immediate reaction in Japan was mixed.
For many of Japan's conservative politicians, for whom Japan's national identity is tied closely to the notion of an unbroken monarchical line stretching back to the 7th Century BC, abdication was seen as an anomaly, conflicting with the notion that the monarch should serve out his term for the length of his natural life.… Seguir leyendo »