tokyo emperor akihito spend much nearly three decades japan throne seek soothe wound world war two step april 30 2019 first abdication japanese monarch two centuries 10-member imperial household council lawmakers royals supreme court justices chair prime minister shinzo abe agree time friday akihito turn 84 dec. 23 heart surgery treatment prostate cancer say rare remark last year fear age might make hard fulfil duties succeed heir 57-year-old crown prince naruhito first abdication emperor 200 years first post-war constitution abe tell reporters announce recommendation feel deep emotion today opinion imperial household council smoothly decide big step take toward imperial succession cabinet still sign decision date likely next week consider divine japan emperor define post-war constitution symbol state unity people political power akihito along empress michiko spend much time try address legacy world war two fight name father hirohito console victims disasters woes widely respect average japanese emperor empress think tirelessly people say taeko ito 72-year-old caregiver elderly wish heart rest akihito michiko first common wed japanese monarch work reconcile tie across asia sour japan aggression world war two numerous visit abroad 1992 become first japanese monarch live memory visit china bitter memories war run deep visit emperor say deeply deplore unfortunate period country inflict great suffer people china akihito consistently urge japanese never forget horrors war remark garner increase attention since abe take office 2012 seek adopt less apologetic tone japan past military aggression redefine job want modernise monarchy take care unfinished business ... bring imperial household close people say jeffrey kingston director asian study temple university japan remarkably successful front deeply admire respect moral authority unquestioned akihito step new imperial era begin replace current heisei achieve peace period begin jan. 1989 day take throne japan use western-style gregorian calendar also preserve ancient custom reign new emperor usher new era last time japanese emperor abdicate 1817. post-war law allow abdication one-off law adopt june let akihito step leave detail time work early proposal retire end 2018 30th year throne reject worry would conflict rituals duties around another date consider march 31 2019 end business year subsequent ceremonies would coincide busy time many people nation-wide local elections early april chief cabinet secretary yoshihide suga say japanese lament process take long life long say 79-year-old retiree asataro nishizawa grant wish sooner still vigorous abdication law address problem future age shrink imperial family relate issue whether women allow ascend throne eleven-year-old prince hisahito son akihito young son prince akishino emperor grandson second line throne father follow abdication naruhito daughter princess aiko turn 16 friday inherit males-only throne japan 's emperor akihito abdicate april 30 2019