Emperor announces abdication as Japan marks end of era

Japan's Emperor Akihito, left, walks for a ritual to report his abdication to the throne, at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, Tuesday, April 30, 2019. The 85-year-old Akihito ends his three-decade reign on Tuesday when he abdicates to his son Crown Prince Naruhito. (Japan Pool via AP)
Japan's Crown Prince Naruhito, second from left, and Crown Princess Masako, left, listen to Emperor Akihito speak during the ceremony of Akihito's abdication at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, Tuesday, April 30, 2019. The 85-year-old Akihito ends his three-decade reign on Tuesday as his son Naruhito will ascend the Chrysanthemum throne on Wednesday. (Japan Pool via AP)
Japan's Emperor Akihito speaks during the ceremony of his abdication in front of other members of the royal families and top government officials at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, Tuesday, April 30, 2019. The 85-year-old Akihito ends his three-decade reign on Tuesday as his son Crown Prince Naruhito, left, will ascend the Chrysanthemum throne on Wednesday. (Japan Pool via AP)
Women read a copy of the extra edition of Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper reporting Emperor Akihito's abdication in Tokyo Tuesday, April 30, 2019. Emperor Akihito announced his abdication at a palace ceremony Tuesday in his final address, as the nation embraced the end of his reign with reminiscence and hope for a new era. The headline reads "Emperor, abdication ritual." (Kyodo News via AP)
People bow toward the Imperial Palace as Emperor Akihito's abdication ceremony is held in Tokyo Tuesday, April 30, 2019. Emperor Akihito announced his abdication at the palace ceremony Tuesday in his final address, as the nation embraced the end of his reign with reminiscence and hope for a new era. (Shinji Kita/Kyodo News via AP)
Japan's Emperor Akihito, center, leaves after the ceremony of his abdication past Crown Prince Naruhito, right, and Crown Princess Masako at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, Tuesday, April 30, 2019. The 85-year-old Akihito ends his three-decade reign on Tuesday as his son Naruhito will ascend the Chrysanthemum throne on Wednesday. (Japan Pool via AP)
Japan's Emperor Akihito, left, and Empress Michiko, second left, bow as they prepare to leave after the ceremony of his abdication at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, Tuesday, April 30, 2019. Akihito announced his abdication at a palace ceremony Tuesday in his final address, as the nation embraced the end of his reign with reminiscence and hope for a new era. (Japan Pool via AP)
Japan's Emperor Akihito bows before leaving after the ceremony of his abdication in front of other members of the royal families and top government officials at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, Tuesday, April 30, 2019. The 85-year-old Akihito ends his three-decade reign on Tuesday as his son Crown Prince Naruhito will ascend the Chrysanthemum throne on Wednesday. (Japan Pool via AP)
Japan's Emperor Akihito, right, leaves after a ritual to report his abdication to the throne, at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, Tuesday, April 30, 2019. The 85-year-old Akihito ends his three-decade reign on Tuesday when he abdicates to his son Crown Prince Naruhito. (Japan Pool via AP)
Japan's Crown Prince Naruhito, in a car, leaves the Imperial Palace in Tokyo Tuesday, April 30, 2019. Emperor Akihito is set to abdicate later in the day as Japan embraces the end of his reign with an emotion mixed with reminiscence and hopes for a new era. (Hiroko Harima/Kyodo News via AP)
Japan's Emperor Akihito leaves after a ritual to report his abdication to the throne, at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, Tuesday, April 30, 2019. The 85-year-old Akihito ends his three-decade reign on Tuesday when he abdicates to his son Crown Prince Naruhito. (Japan Pool via AP)
Japan's Emperor Akihito, left, walks for a ritual to report his abdication to the throne, at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, Tuesday, April 30, 2019. The 85-year-old Akihito ends his three-decade reign on Tuesday when he abdicates to his son Crown Prince Naruhito. (Japan Pool via AP)
People gather near Imperial Palace, background, in Tokyo Tuesday, April 30, 2019. Emperor Akihito is set to abdicate later in the day as Japan embraces the end of his reign with an emotion mixed with reminiscence and hopes for a new era. (Shinji Kita/Kyodo News via AP)
People raise their arms in the air toward Imperial Palace in Tokyo Tuesday, April 30, 2019. Emperor Akihito is set to abdicate later in the day as Japan embraces the end of his reign with an emotion mixed with reminiscence and hopes for a new era. (Shinji Kita/Kyodo News via AP)
Japan's Emperor Akihito, third from right, walks for a ritual to report his abdication to the throne, at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, Tuesday, April 30, 2019. The 85-year-old Akihito ends his three-decade reign on Tuesday when he abdicates to his son Crown Prince Naruhito. (Japan Pool via AP)
Japan's Emperor Akihito, center, walks for a ritual to report his abdication to the throne, at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, Tuesday, April 30, 2019. The 85-year-old Akihito ends his three-decade reign on Tuesday when he abdicates to his son Crown Prince Naruhito. (Japan Pool via AP)
Japan's Emperor Akihito, second from right, walks for a ritual to report his abdication to the throne, at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, Tuesday, April 30, 2019. The 85-year-old Akihito ends his three-decade reign on Tuesday when he abdicates to his son Crown Prince Naruhito. (Japan Pool via AP)
Japan's Emperor Akihito, left, walks for a ritual to report his abdication to the throne, at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, Tuesday, April 30, 2019. The 85-year-old Akihito ends his three-decade reign on Tuesday when he abdicates to his son Crown Prince Naruhito. (Japan Pool via AP)
Japan's Emperor Akihito, third from right, walks for a ritual to report his abdication to the throne, at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, Tuesday, April 30, 2019. The 85-year-old Akihito ends his three-decade reign on Tuesday when he abdicates to his son Crown Prince Naruhito. (Japan Pool via AP)
Japan's Emperor Akihito, right, leaves after a ritual to report his abdication to the throne, at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, Tuesday, April 30, 2019. The 85-year-old Akihito ends his three-decade reign on Tuesday when he abdicates to his son Crown Prince Naruhito. (Japan Pool via AP)
Japan's Emperor Akihito, right, leaves after a ritual to report his abdication to the throne, at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, Tuesday, April 30, 2019. The 85-year-old Akihito ends his three-decade reign on Tuesday when he abdicates to his son Crown Prince Naruhito. (Japan Pool via AP)
Japan's Emperor Akihito, right, leaves after a ritual to report his abdication to the throne, at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, Tuesday, April 30, 2019. The 85-year-old Akihito ends his three-decade reign on Tuesday when he abdicates to his son Crown Prince Naruhito. (Japan Pool via AP)
Japan's Crown Prince Naruhito, in a car, returns to the Crown Prince's Palace in Tokyo Tuesday, April 30, 2019. Japan's 85-year-old Emperor Akihito ends his three-decade reign on Tuesday and his son Crown Prince Naruhito will ascend to the Chrysanthemum Throne on Wednesday. (Yuta Omori/Kyodo News via AP)
Japan's Emperor Akihito, right, leaves after a ritual to report his abdication to the throne, at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, Tuesday, April 30, 2019. The 85-year-old Akihito ends his three-decade reign on Tuesday when he abdicates to his son Crown Prince Naruhito. (Japan Pool via AP)

TOKYO — Japanese Emperor Akihito announced his abdication at a palace ceremony Tuesday in his final address, as the nation embraced the end of his reign with reminiscence and hope for a new era.