Japanese emperor: Akihito set for first abdication in 200 years bbc.com

Japan's Emperor Akihito is set to step down from the throne on Tuesday, make him the first Japanese emperor to abdicate in more than 200 years. The day's ceremonies began with several private rituals in the Imperial Palace. The 85-year-old has been given legal permission to abdicate after saying he felt unable to fulfil his role because of his age and declining health. His son, Crown Prince Naruhito, will ascend the Chrysanthemum throne the next day, beginning a new era. The emperor in Japan holds no political power but serves as a national symbol. Emperor Akihito's reign has been marked by his interactions with people suffering from disease and disaster, which have endeared him to many Japanese people.