Abdication in Japan~I

The abdication of Emperor Akihito will be the first in nearly 200 years, ever since that of the 119th Emperor Koukaku in 1817 during the Edo period (1603-1867). It will also be the first abdication that will not follow the death of an Emperor. The Imperial House Law, enacted in the Meiji era (1868-1912), made the Emperor's tenure life-long. In a video message broadcast on 8 August 2016, Emperor Akihito had expressed his wish to step down.