Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko of Japan have been very busy in the days leading up to the Emperor’s Abdication on April 30th, undertaking a series of engagements to mark the end of the Heisei era, which we are featuring today!
On April 13th, Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko visited a special exhibition on their 30-year reign at Nihombashi Takashimaya Shopping Center. Later, they visited the site of the empress’ former home in Shinagawa Ward; the Shoda residence is now Nemunoki Garden.
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— Prisma 😷 (@ImperialJPNfan) April 15, 2019
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On April 13th, Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko visited a special exhibition on their 30-year reign at Nihombashi Takashimaya Shopping Center. Later, they visited the site of the empress’ former home in Shinagawa Ward; the Shoda residence is now Nemunoki Garden.
📸 Sankei, FNN pic.twitter.com/TWIvrBFqHZ
On April 13th, Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko visited a special exhibition on the 30th Anniversary of their reign at Nihombashi Takashimaya Shopping Center in Tokyo, which was followed by a visit to the Empress’ former home, which is now the Nemunoki Garden. Two days later, the Emperor hosted a tea party for 50 members of the House of Representatives and House of Councillors at the Imperial Palace.
On April 17th, Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko travelled to Ise, Mie Prefecture to report the emperor's upcoming abdication at Ise Grand Shrine.
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— Prisma 😷 (@ImperialJPNfan) April 19, 2019
Embed from Getty Images天皇、皇后両陛下が伊勢神宮外宮(三重県伊勢市)を参拝されました。30日に退位を控え、両陛下にとって今回が在位中最後の地方訪問となりました。=上間孝司撮影https://t.co/wg2rjOdiOF#伊勢神宮 #三種の神器 pic.twitter.com/zJ2rmmLMES
— 日経 写真映像ニュース (@nikkeiphoto) April 18, 2019
Embed from Getty ImagesOn April 19th, Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko returned to Tokyo in the afternoon.
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— Prisma 😷 (@ImperialJPNfan) April 19, 2019
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On April 17th, Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko travelled to Ise, Mie Prefecture to report the emperor's upcoming abdication at Ise Grand Shrine.
📸 Sankei, Jiji, Sankei, Sankei pic.twitter.com/R2YlYo6dGK
天皇、皇后両陛下が伊勢神宮外宮(三重県伊勢市)を参拝されました。30日に退位を控え、両陛下にとって今回が在位中最後の地方訪問となりました。=上間孝司撮影https://t.co/wg2rjOdiOF#伊勢神宮 #三種の神器 pic.twitter.com/zJ2rmmLMES
— 日経 写真映像ニュース (@nikkeiphoto) April 18, 2019On April 19th, Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko returned to Tokyo in the afternoon.
📸 https://t.co/sdDRCKXTQQ
📸 https://t.co/tlZa9PBLLQ pic.twitter.com/5qVpHip3v4
On the 17th, Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko travelled to the city of Ise, Mie Prefecture, where the following day, they reported the abdication and worshipped at the Outer and Inner shrines of Ise Grand Shrine, which is dedicated to sun goddess Amaterasu, the ancestral deity of the Imperial family. They were joined by their daughter, Sayako Kuroda, the supreme priestess at Ise Grand Shrine who was celebrating her 50th Birthday that day. The Emperor and returned to Tokyo the following afternoon.
On April 23rd, Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko reported his abdication to the Mausoleum of Emperor Showa (Hirohito) at Musashi Imperial Graveyard in Hachioji, Tokyo.
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— Prisma 😷 (@ImperialJPNfan) April 24, 2019
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On April 23rd, Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko reported his abdication to the Mausoleum of Emperor Showa (Hirohito) at Musashi Imperial Graveyard in Hachioji, Tokyo.
📸 Sankei, Sankei, Mainichi, Jiji pic.twitter.com/nP63PdiOIJ
Later on April 23rd, Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko visited Takao Mikoromo Seido, a temple for victims of work accidents, in Hachioji, Tokyo.
📸 Kyodo, Jiji, Mainichi pic.twitter.com/e3Fq3f5k04
— Prisma 😷 (@ImperialJPNfan) April 24, 2019
On April 24th, Crown Prince Naruhito and Prince Akishino visited the Imperial Palace in the morning for 3-way talks with Emperor Akihito. The meeting lasted about 50 minutes; this will be the last monthly discussion before the abdication.
📸 Jiji pic.twitter.com/t6XOJLQ6Ax
— Prisma 😷 (@ImperialJPNfan) April 24, 2019
Later on April 23rd, Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko visited Takao Mikoromo Seido, a temple for victims of work accidents, in Hachioji, Tokyo.
📸 Kyodo, Jiji, Mainichi pic.twitter.com/e3Fq3f5k04
On April 24th, Crown Prince Naruhito and Prince Akishino visited the Imperial Palace in the morning for 3-way talks with Emperor Akihito. The meeting lasted about 50 minutes; this will be the last monthly discussion before the abdication.
📸 Jiji pic.twitter.com/t6XOJLQ6Ax
On the 23rd, the Emperor and Empress reported his abdication to the Mausoleum of Emperor Showa (Hirohito) at Musashi Imperial Graveyard in Hachioji, and later visited Takao Mikoromo Seido, a temple for victims of work accidents. The following day, Crown Prince Naruhito and Prince Akishino visited the Imperial Palace in the morning for their monthly 3-way talks with Emperor Akihito, the last monthly discussion before the abdication.
On April 25th, Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko visited the Luxembourg Embassy in Tokyo to offer condolences on the passing of Grand Duke Jean.
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📸 https://t.co/ts73v9Vsg3 pic.twitter.com/MU3LCe33Ui
— Prisma 😷 (@ImperialJPNfan) April 25, 2019
On April 25th, Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko visited the Luxembourg Embassy in Tokyo to offer condolences on the passing of Grand Duke Jean.
📸 https://t.co/PQNCjXcS2W
📸 https://t.co/ts73v9Vsg3 pic.twitter.com/MU3LCe33Ui
On April 25th, Crown Prince Naruhito and Crown Princess Masako visited the Imperial Palace for rehearsals of May 1 ceremonies. They arrived at 4pm and stayed an hour and a half. The couple practiced the Kenji-to-Shokei-no-gi and Sokui-go-Choken-no-gi ceremonies.
📸 Jiji, Kyodo pic.twitter.com/mwrAYc9k22
— Prisma 😷 (@ImperialJPNfan) April 25, 2019
On April 25th, Crown Prince Naruhito and Crown Princess Masako visited the Imperial Palace for rehearsals of May 1 ceremonies. They arrived at 4pm and stayed an hour and a half. The couple practiced the Kenji-to-Shokei-no-gi and Sokui-go-Choken-no-gi ceremonies.
📸 Jiji, Kyodo pic.twitter.com/mwrAYc9k22
On April 25th, Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko visited the Luxembourg Embassy in Tokyo to offer condolences on the passing of Grand Duke Jean of Luxembourg, who passed away on the 23rd. Meanwhile, Crown Prince Naruhito and Crown Princess Masako visited the Imperial Palace for rehearsals of May 1st Kenji-to-Shokei-no-gi and Sokui-go-Choken-no-gi ceremonies.
Embed from Getty ImagesOn April 26th, Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko attended the 13th MIDORI Academic Prize ceremony and reception at the Parliamentary Museum.
This is their last official engagement outside the Imperial Palace before the abdication.
📸 Jiji pic.twitter.com/pzI25Ksphz
— Prisma 😷 (@ImperialJPNfan) April 26, 2019
On April 26th, Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko attended the 13th MIDORI Academic Prize ceremony and reception at the Parliamentary Museum.
This is their last official engagement outside the Imperial Palace before the abdication.
📸 Jiji pic.twitter.com/pzI25Ksphz
On the 26th, Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko attended the 13th MIDORI Academic Prize ceremony and reception at the Parliamentary Museum in Tokyo, which was their last official engagement outside the Imperial Palace before the abdication and the final official engagement of the Heisei era.
And with that Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko bid farewell, as they retire from public duties after the Abdication next week! I’ve been following the Imperial Couple for the past few years, and have been touched by their quiet, dignified presence. I wish them a very happy and peaceful retirement!
Beautiful and touching post!
I’m gonna miss the elegant style of the empress.
They are such an adorable couple. I hope they enjoy their well-deserved retirement.
May Emperor Emeritus Akihito and Empress Emerita Michiko of Japan live happily and peacefully after retirement. May prosperity of Japan, Imperial Family and the people in Japan continue to reign.