An Emperor abdicates, the successor is ready

For the first Time in the oldest hereditary monarchy in the world since 200 years ago the Emperor of the country abdicates and leaves the throne for his son. In Japan, a new Era begins.

Japan's Emperor Akihito has announced the gods of the country of his abdication. The 85-year-old Monarch held on Tuesday in the shrines of his Palace for religious rites – dressed in a modern Version of a centuries-old courtly costume of gold-brown Robe and tall black hat. In the sanctuaries of Japanese Primal Religion, Shinto, among other things, the sun goddess, Amaterasu Omikami is worshiped. The myths, the Japanese emperors are direct descendants of Amaterasu Omikami.

Formally, Akihito from thanks to midnight (local time), bringing his 30 years of reign, called "Heisei" (peace). It is the first Time in around 200 years in the oldest hereditary monarchy in the world, that the Emperor abdicate in his lifetime. The next day, Akihito's mounts eldest son, crown Prince Naruhito (59), the throne, and ushers in a new Era for Japan.

His father, Akihito wanted to first inform on Tuesday at a state abdication ceremony at the Palace for the last Time words to the Public. It is the last speech will be Akihito's as a Tenno. As a representative of the Public, the right-wing conservative Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will say in the presence of around 300 guests and members of the state's top words of gratitude for the 30 years of President of the Tenno.

Akihito's reign is "Heisei" was for Japan a time of peace, but also the disasters – like the earthquake in Kobe in 1995, and the triple disaster of earthquake, Tsunami and nuclear accident in 2011 in Fukushima. Economically, it was also with Japan in this time downhill. Full of anticipation, the Japanese look at the Era of the new Emperor Naruhito, the the government gave the currency name "Reiwa". Officially, this translates to "beautiful harmony."

Akihito was the first representative of something more modern, the people surrounding court. As the then crown Prince, he broke in April of 1959, with the almost 2000-year-old Hoftradition and married with the businessman's daughter, Michiko Shoda, a Commoner. The wedding of Akihito and his "tennis court-love," said at the time, millions of Japanese in the true storms of enthusiasm. Their children were in the hospital and not in the Palace to the world. Michiko did away with the nurse and nursed their children themselves, until then, unimaginable.

The Emperor's last speech before his resignation in January 2019. (Video: AFP)

While Akihito, as usual, from the third age of life of a foreign family was reared, educated, and he and Michiko your children. "From the present Emperor, for the first time of an Imperial family," says the Tenno expert Ernst Lokowandt in Tokyo. Although may not speak a Japanese Emperor to political questions. Nevertheless, Akihito and to some extent was true of the pacifist post-war Constitution. Despite his own ailing health, he continued with Michiko for the victims of disasters, and donated to the people consolation and hope.

It is expected that the future Emperor Naruhito emulating his father. At the same time, it is expected of him-also New, this fits in with the future development of the company. The Palace, according to observers, Naruhito is expected to focus, as the first Emperor who studied abroad, increasingly on global issues. His wife, the future Empress, Masako, a Harvard-trained diplomat. Since 15 years she is recovering, according to official figures from an "adjustment disorder", which stems from the Stress of their office.

the observer can see behind it, especially the long time to your load of pressure to bear a male heir to the throne. The future Empress brought, finally, daughter, Aiko, to the world, but women are denied the throne in Japan. The people no longer takes for Masako but only of pity: the critics miss in a "spirit of selflessness", the mother-in-law had for the people. (nag/sda)

Created: 30.04.2019, 13:32 PM