Farewell to the people: Akihito thanked in tears

In four months, will resign, Japan's Emperor Akihito. Of his people, he adopted now - on the occasion of his 85. Birth tags. The mood of the subjects: wistful.

By Martin Fritz, ARD-Studio, Tokyo

Three Times, Emperor Akihito with Empress Michiko and his family on the Palace balcony and waved. Every Time the Tenno was celebrated stormy. The court office had over 75,000 visitors, as many as never before, because this was his last public birthday greeting before the abdication at the end of April.

The crowd showed the great Affection of the Japanese monarch your old Mona. "My feeling of gratitude for him is so strong that I could scream," said an elderly woman moved. And a young mother confessed that she had often moved by the fact that "he thinks first of All to the people."

in Akihito's short speech this heat could be felt. "I am very happy that I celebrated by so many people," said Akihito, and wished everyone "health and happiness" for the new year.

The current and the future Royal Couple on the balcony of the Palace: When Akihito and Michiko leave the Palace, Masako and Naruhito.

Thoughtful balance

in Front of the birthday celebration Akihito had pulled a thoughtful balance of its nearly thirty-year term of office. After the lost world war, the role of the Emperor from a God-like ruler was clipped to a Symbol of the state. Therein, Akihito saw the danger that the Imperial house could be superfluous.

In contrast to the unapproachable of the war, Emperor Hirohito tried to his son, Akihito, therefore, to the greatest possible closeness to the ordinary people. For example, he went together with his wife Michiko again and again the victims of natural disasters. Out of solidarity with the Displaced people of the nuclear accident of Fukushima, he didn't want to leave even the destroyed nuclear reactors from a helicopter show that was it.

in Front of the press his compassion formulated Akihito again. The disasters of the past 30 years would have cost many lives and countless people affected: "I have no words for the profound sadness I feel at this thought."

And this is how it looked in front of the Palace: ten thousands were induced flocked to celebrate the Tenno once more.

reconciliation

Akihito also addressed his other concern, namely the memory of the lost war, to keep awake. The Imperial couple had visited in nearly 30 years in many theatres of war in Asia and the consequences of the war for the people of regrets. So the Emperor did far more for the reconciliation of Japan conquered countries, as the Japanese politicians.

"It is important that we, the countless people life is not forgotten, lost in the Second world war, and that peace and prosperity of postwar Japan on the multiple deprivation and tireless efforts of the Japanese people structures. It comforts me that my term of office without war in Japan comes to an end."

The tears choked voice betrayed the concern of the Emperor that Japan could again lead to war. Enshrined in the Constitution and pacifism Akihito had urged again and again, although political statements are prohibited. His concern was also evident in the name "Heisei" for his nearly completed term of office, "Heisei", meaning "peace everywhere".

Emperor Akihito is} 85 years old
Martin Fritz, ARD Tokyo
23.12.2018 13:36 PM

Download the audio file

We offer this Audio in the following formats for Download:

mp3 Ogg Vorbis

note: , If the audio file is not saved when you Click automatically, you can select click with the right mouse button and "save target as...".

More:

Japan greiser Emperor Akihito can abdicate, 09.06.2017 of Japan, Emperor Akihito is 85 years old, Martin Fritz, ARD Tokyo |audio Atlas |Japan |Tokyo

Audio