“I have spent my days searching for what should be the role of the Emperor, who is designated to be the symbol of the State and of the unity of the people.”

About Akihito

Emperor Emeritus • Japanese

Akihito served as the 125th Emperor of Japan from 1989 until his historic abdication in 2019. He was the first Japanese monarch to abdicate the Chrysanthemum Throne in over two centuries. Throughout his reign, known as...