The Japanese Prime Minister officially announces the resignation of the Japanese Emperor

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has confirmed by a declaration the resignation of the current 85-year-old Emperor Akihito.

In the statement that the Secretary General of the Cabinet, Yoshihide Suga, read live on the NHK channel, Abe addresses his thanks to the Emperor and the Empress on behalf of the people.

The emperor, who has been on the throne for 30 years, will be replaced by his eldest son, 59-year-old Crown Prince Naruhito.

The new era, which will begin on May 1, when Crown Prince Naruhito will accede to the Chrysanthemum throne, will be called Reiwa. The first of two characters in the name means "lucky", while the second can be translated as "peace" or "harmony".

With the arrival of Reiwa ends the 30th anniversary of Heisei (meaning "achieve peace"), started on January 8, 1989.

RT.