Emperor urges Japan to be ‘open to the outside’

Japan’s Emperor Akihito urged his country to be open to the outside world at a ceremony marking 30 years of his reign yesterday ahead of his abdication later this year. Akihito will abdicate from the Chrysanthemum Throne on April 30, making way for Crown Prince Naruhito to replace him the following day.

“As the world has been globalised, I think we are now required to be more open to the outside, establish our own position with wisdom and build relations with other countries sincerely,” he said at the ceremony in Tokyo. “Since I was enthroned as emperor, I have spent time pondering how I am supposed to be as a symbol,” the 85-yearold emperor said, describing the process as “endlessly long”.

His son Crown Prince Naruhito has indicated he plans to follow in his father’s footsteps. Marking his 59th birthday, Naruhito pledged last week to maintain the royal household’s close ties to the public and “fulfil my duty as a symbol of the state.”