Emperor Akihito calls for continuity of peace on his 85th birthday, the last before his abdication | World

"I am deeply convinced that the Heisei era (that of his reign) is coming to an end, released from the war in Japan," Akihito said in an interview granted three days ago. at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo. He said that he had not forgotten the horrors of the war.

Akihito says it was "important not to forget the countless lives lost during the Second World War and that the peace and prosperity of post-war Japan rested on various sacrifices and efforts tireless ", demanding that history be preserved. counted "with precision" for the new generations.

The Japanese emperor recalled the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, the first year of his reign, and the manner in which it became the symbol of the end of the so-called cold war, carrying the 39 hope for a time of peace in the world.

"Subsequent global development was not necessarily in the direction we wanted, my heart was torn apart by ethnic conflict and religious conflict, the fact that many people lost their lives as a result of 39, acts of terrorism and that a large number of refugees continue to face difficulties today in the world, "he said. The imperial family on the birthday of Emperor Akihito – Photo: Toshifumi Kitamura / AFP Photo "src =" data: image / jpeg; base64

This is the last scheduled time in which Akihito sends a message to the public at a conference. Press release and the last time he's celebrating his birthday as head of state before his abdication, April 30, 2019.

Akihito has also comforted people affected by a series of natural disasters this year and said such disasters Japan has suffered during its three decades of rule has left "an indelible impression" in its mind.

"I can not forget the natural disasters that occurred more frequently than in previous years, the heavy rains, the earthquakes and the typhoons in which many people died, while many others lost their lives. base of their livelihood, "lamented the emperor.

Akihito says that he has no words "to describe the deep sadness he feels when he thinks of it", but he is encouraged to find that "faced with such difficulties, the spirit of volunteerism and other forms of cooperation grow between people. "

Upon his abdication, the emperor has always baderted that since his accession to the throne, he It was asked how best to develop the functions of "symbol of the State" granted to it by the Constitution and that it would continue to struggle over the next few months. .