Emperor Akihito’s succession to the Japanese throne began the Heisei era in January of 1989. Next April, he will abdicate the throne, ending the Heisei era intended to mean “peace everywhere”. The Japanese imperial family serve as “the symbol of the State and the unity of the people” and wield no political power but instead have a ceremonial symbolic role. Abdication was historically used often, after a service of repetitive rituals of about ten years it was understood that the emperor deserved retirement. However, more recently, Emperors have not played as much of a priestly role and Akihito’s abdication will be the first in the last 200 years.
As it has been historically, the role will be passed to a male in the imperial lineage, to his son, Prince Naruhito. However, women have served as Empresses on eleven occasions for the Chrysanthemum Throne but abdicated once an appropriate male in the family was deemed old enough. The current law passed by the National Diet excludes women from being able to access, but changes were considered when a potential succession issue came about when no males were born into the family between 1965 and 2006.
With the end of the Heisei Period, Naruhito’s accession will be preceded by many festivities and ceremonies. While in the past, the Era names were not announced in advance, this will be the first time it will; it needs to be known so that calendars can be printed and ensure that software will be able to correctly handle the new era.
Here’s a timeline of the major events to come surrounding the abdication and accession:
January 8th: 30th Anniversary of Akihito’s Accession, Jubilee and official farewell celebrations begin
February 24th: Naruhito’s era name will be announced
April 30th: Abdication day and ceremony, the end of the Heisei Period
May 1st: The beginning of the New Era with the enthronement of Emperor Naruhito and five ceremonies
