Japanese Emperor Akihito officially declared his abdication

On April 30, 2019, Japanese Emperor Akihito officially declared his abdication during his speech that he delivered during the state ceremony held at the Imperial Palace on his last day on the throne. Thereby, he officially handed over the throne to his son Crown Prince Naruhito. 300 guests including Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, presidents of two wings of Japanese parliament Diet, ministers, High Court judges and members of the royal family attended the ceremony held for the emperor.
Emperor Naruhito, Empress Masako, Princess Aiko, Princess Kiko, Princess Mako, Princess Kako, Crown Prince Fumihito
Tomorrow morning, Crown Prince Naruhito will ascend the throne as the 126th emperor of Japan. Thus, a new era - called Reiwa, meaning order and harmony - will begin in Japan's unique calendar, which will end Heisei, the name of Akihito's era.
Emperor Naruhito, Empress Masako, Princess Aiko, Princess Kiko, Princess Mako, Princess Kako, Crown Prince Fumihito
Akihito and his wife Michiko will not attend the official ceremony to be held tomorrow. In place of them, their son, 59 years old, Crown Prince Naruhito will be present at the ceremony as the Emperor of Japan.
Emperor Naruhito, Empress Masako, Princess Aiko, Princess Kiko, Princess Mako, Princess Kako, Crown Prince Fumihito
Emperor Naruhito, Empress Masako, Princess Aiko, Princess Kiko, Princess Mako, Princess Kako, Crown Prince Fumihito
Emperor Naruhito, Empress Masako, Princess Aiko, Princess Kiko, Princess Mako, Princess Kako, Crown Prince Fumihito
Emperor Naruhito, Empress Masako, Princess Aiko, Princess Kiko, Princess Mako, Princess Kako, Crown Prince Fumihito
Emperor Naruhito, Empress Masako, Princess Aiko, Princess Kiko, Princess Mako, Princess Kako, Crown Prince Fumihito
Emperor Naruhito, Empress Masako, Princess Aiko, Princess Kiko, Princess Mako, Princess Kako, Crown Prince Fumihito
According to the Japanese press, on May 4, the new Emperor Naruhito, Empress Masako and other members of the imperial family will greet the people from the balcony of the palace in Tokyo.
Emperor Naruhito, Empress Masako, Princess Aiko, Princess Kiko, Princess Mako, Princess Kako, Crown Prince Fumihito
Emperor Naruhito, Empress Masako, Princess Aiko, Princess Kiko, Princess Mako, Princess Kako, Crown Prince Fumihito
Emperor Naruhito, Empress Masako, Princess Aiko, Princess Kiko, Princess Mako, Princess Kako, Crown Prince Fumihito
Emperor Naruhito, Empress Masako, Princess Aiko, Princess Kiko, Princess Mako, Princess Kako, Crown Prince Fumihito
Emperor Naruhito, Empress Masako, Princess Aiko, Princess Kiko, Princess Mako, Princess Kako, Crown Prince Fumihito

16 Comments

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  1. A new era starts tomorrow,we wish to the new Emperor and Empress a healthy and producty life. And for Akihito and Michiko a happy retirament. We will trully miss them.

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  2. I do admit that I wished there was a new era starting with Princess Aiko.

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    1. Anonymous1/5/19 19:10

      Amen. Forever a second class citizen just because of your sex - in the 21st century no less! But I digress. We're suppose to be talking about fashion.

      Everyone looked very nice and gentlemen very handsome in their morning suits.

      I'm curious; was this strictly a Japanese affair or where representatives from other nations invited?

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    2. Reply to Anon 9:10 pm: The ceremonies on April 30 and May 1 were a solely Japanese affair, with only a few selected people (Government, etc.) attending. The main celebrations will be in late October, with an inthronisation as a huge state event, to which many foreign heads of state will be invited, and a motorcade ride through Tokyo, and a large, glitterin state banquet. There was a (short) tiara event yesterday, which is featured more up this page in a separate posting.

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  3. Si seulement ce nouvel empereur pouvait un peu moderniser tout ça et passer outre cette agence impériale rétrograde.

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  4. New Empress Masako (she is now, as it is May 1st in Japan already) seems to have something done to enhance her eyebrows (I'm thinking of some sort of micro-blading, actually). It certainly looks different on the close-up pictures.

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    1. Sin duda las cejas se ven muy definidas. Probablemente serán pintadas. No parecen muy naturales

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    2. Anonymous1/5/19 19:12

      I noticed that too and I have to say, I don't like it. Way over done.

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    3. Anonymous2/5/19 15:43

      Es muy normal en Japón que se pinten las cejas, es maquillaje "Maiko"...

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  5. Si seulement ce nouvel empereur pouvait moderniser tout ça et forcer l'agence impériale rétrograde à évoluer un peu notamment sur le sort des femmes de la cour. Elles me font de la peine.

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  6. Contesto a "DSC":tal vez pintadas no creo que le permitan hacer algún cambio su corte es muy muy rígida:si por la presión la emperatriz saliente hizo depesion y perdió el habla por 7 meses dificulto le permitan retocarse

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  7. Contesto a "DSC":tal vez pintadas no creo que le permitan hacer algún cambio su corte es muy muy rígida:si por la presión la emperatriz saliente hizo depesion y perdió el habla por 7 meses dificulto le permitan retocarse

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  8. Anonymous1/5/19 04:10

    I like the Empress's dress it looks as though the fabric is quite rich;she looks attractive;I wish her and her family well.

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  9. I usually like Empress Michiko's gowns the best at these gatherings. I not too fond of the look the other royals wear. It looks like a missed attempt at western wear. I do enjoy seeing them in kimonos. They are so beautiful.

    The Japanese royal family is a victim of their own archaic traditions. Since they won't modernize, they have endangered the succession of the Imperial Crown. I love that the Japanese people honor their history and traditions, but this is one case when it will lead to the undoing of an institution.

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    1. Anonymous1/5/19 19:20

      I think you might be right. It will be interesting to see where things are fifteen to twenty years from now especially if the opinion of the Japanese public is even stronger than it is now in regards to females being allowed to inherit the throne if born before a male. Hmm, I say that and then I think about how even more backwards certain other parts of the world are with absolutely no light at the end of the tunnel and it makes the Japanese throne seem so "modern." Sad.

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  10. Anonymous1/5/19 18:33

    A new era started in modern Japan today. Welcome to the new Emperor and Empress of Japan. Hopefully we'll see them a lot. I wish them the best for their new life.

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