Japan has spent months preparing for this historic moment. Emperor Akihito has become the first Japanese Emperor in 200 years to abdicate, stepping down from the Chrysanthemum Throne in a traditional ceremony celebrated at the Imperial Palace filled with ancient rites and broadcast live on TV and via live stream. Crown Prince Narhuito's father made his final public speech on Tuesday, saying goodbye to a reign that lasted more than 30 years.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, charged with accepting the abdication, thanked the Emperor, defining his peaceful reign as "a symbol of the people's unity". Akihito, meanwhile, summed up his three decades on the throne, saying he gave thanks for the "trust and respect of his people", and sent a message of optimism about the upcoming era saying he believed it would be "stable and prosperous".
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It was a bittersweet day for Crown Prince Naruhito, seen here with wife Crown Princess Masako, as he watched his father end his reign. The Crown Prince is now charged with ushering in a new imperial era for the Chrysanthemum Throne.
While she is the daughter of Crown Prince Naruhito and Crown Princess Masako – the country's new Emperor and Empress – Princess Aiko, seen here arriving, will not be second in line. The Japanese law of succession dictates that females are not eligible to ascend the throne.