Japan’s Emperor Akihito has held on the Wednesday of his last new year speech. He is looking forward sincerely to welcome once again together with his subjects in the new year, said the 85-year-old Monarch on the balcony of his Palace in Tokyo.
“I hope that this year is for as many people as possible to be a good year,” said Akihito in the presence of Empress Michiko and other members of the Imperial family. He will pray at the beginning of the year for peace and happiness for his country and for the people all over the world. Tens of thousands had come to see him.
Naruhito will succeed
It was Akihito’s last new year’s speech. Because in the 30. April will abdicate the throne, Emperor Akihito and the first Tenno in the oldest hereditary monarchy in the world for around 200 years, the power during the lifetime of the throne for his successor. On 1. May Akihito’s eldest son, crown Prince Naruhito, the chrysanthemum throne is.
In the sunshine the air was found in a cold winter in the early Wednesday morning, huge crowds with waving national flags in front of the Palace in Tokyo. According to the information of the Imperial Palace more than 114 000 people came to listen to Akihito’s last new year’s speech.
in Order to allow as many people as possible a last look on the popular monarchs, should contact the assignor to Kaiser on Wednesday, a total of five Times on the balcony. A lot of people waving Japanese flags, sang the national anthem and wished the monarch with the exclamation “Banzai” to live a long life.
Since 1989, on the throne
Akihito had already on 23. December, in a speech to his 85. Birthday of his subjects passed and his lordship looked back.
On the throne, Akihito had come after the death of his father Hirohito in 1989. He established the role of the Emperor as a “Symbol of the state” and sought a greater closeness to the Japanese people.
The normal people offer only two occasions in the year to come to the Palace in Tokyo in close proximity to the new year at 2. Of January and the birthday of Emperor Akihito on December 23. December. (nlu/sda)
Created: 02.01.2019, 08:54 PM
