Japan is preparing to close the "Heisei" era: Emperor Akihito has initiated abdication rituals

Emperor Akihito began rituals Tuesday to give up his throne, while Japan is delighted with the end of its reign with mixed feelings that go from evocation to hope before a new era.

TV pictures showed Akihito entering a shrine to signal his retirement to the Shinto gods before the official ceremony. Only part of the ritual was broadcast to the public.

Later, in a palatial ritual, Akihito, 85, will announce his retirement to other members of the royal family and senior government officials.

Akihito has spent his time repairing the damage done to the victims by a war that took place on behalf of his fatherand to bring the distant monarchy closer to the people.

Japan closes the Tuesday era "Heisei"(peace), the most peaceful period the country has ever seen in its recent history, and will open the next day the era "Reiwa" (beautiful harmony) with his successor Naruhito, the first relief of life on the throne of chrysanthemum for two centuries.

The last time there was an imperial abdication in Japan, it was May 7, 1817, when Kokaku did it. The emperors of that time did not generally exceed 40 years past the chrysanthemum throne, because they died young or were forced to abdicate.

Akihito, 85 years old, announced on August 8, 2016 that because of his advanced age and health problems, it was difficult to fulfill his duties, but did not officially announce his desire to abdicate, because the law of the time did not allow it.

It was necessary to adopt a special lawand the government announced on December 1, 2017 that the succession of the throne would be between April 30 and May 1, 2019.

The first ceremony, that of the abdication, will last about ten minutes from 5:00 pm local time (8:00 am GMT) in the Pine Room, the largest and largest of the imperial palaces of Tokyo, during the summer. a ceremony to which 338 people will participate.

One expects Akihito to utter his last words as Emperor, after the Japanese Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, as representative of the Japanese people, officially announces the abdication of the emperor.

The abdication of Akihito, who will become emperor emeritus since then, It will close the era of "Heisei", a time that has proven to be the most peaceful period of theIt began in 1989 after the death of Emperor Hirohito.

Akihitowhich in recent years has undergone two surgeries, he leaves the throne leaving a seal at his time marked by the proximity of his city, against the remoteness that their predecessors had.

A survey conducted last March by the newspaper Mainichi determined that 87% of Japanese believe that Akihito is fully consistent with the role entrusted to it by the Constitution. that of serving as a symbol of the state and the unity of the country.

With the ceremony on Tuesday, Akihito will give two of the symbols and treasures of the chrysanthemum throne that he has kept for three decades: the legendary sword Kusanagi and a jewel of jade.

Wednesday, from 10:30 local time (01:30 GMT), it will be the turn of Naruhito, who will badume the chrysanthemum throne at a ceremony that will involve members of the Imperial House and senior officials from the three branches of the state.

It is a ritual that is not open to womenbut this time there will be one, the only minister in Abe's cabinet, Satsuki Katayama Among the absentees are those who, since the day before, will be Emperor Emeritus Akihito.

On Wednesday, Naruhito is expected to deliver his first message as an emperado.r. Akihito, when he acceded to the throne, spoke only a few words, pledging to fulfill the functions that the Constitution attributes to him.

The events of this week will end on Saturday with the first public appearance of Naruhito as Emperorwhich, on six occasions, will comply with traditional greetings from the balconies of the imperial palace.

But it will not be before On October 22, foreign heads of state attend public ceremonies for the ascension of the Naruhito throne. Some 2,600 people were invited.

Before that, and unless there are last-minute changes, it will be the American president, Donald Trump, the first chief of state to meet Emperor Naruhito, during the official visit to Tokyo starting May 25th.

(With information from AP and EFE)