Japan's Emperor Akihito has delivered his final New Year's address before his abdication later this year, telling a record turnout of well-wishers that he was praying for peace.
The Imperial Palace said some 154,800 people had flocked to the royal residence for a final chance to see the 85-year-old royal deliver his traditional annual greeting.
It was the largest number of visitors to the palace for his New Year speech since he ascended to the throne in 1989.
The emperor appeared seven times at the balcony - up from five originally scheduled - as he 'strongly' wanted more people to attend after seeing the vast number of well-wishers still gathered outside the palace in the afternoon, a palace spokesman said.
Japanese Emperor Akihito (left, with his wife) has waved to throngs of well-wishers eager to see the final New Year's appearance of his reign just months before the 85-year-old royal abdicates
Akihito makes annual New Year's appearances alongside his wife Empress Michiko and other family members to wish peace for the nation
Crown Prince Naruhito appeared on the balcony with his wife, Masako, who was smiling and wearing a burgundy dress
He will become the first Japanese monarch to abdicate in around two centuries when he steps down from the throne on April 30, ending his three-decade reign.
'Happy New Year. I'm sincerely glad to celebrate the new year together with you under the clear sky,' he told the crowd, many waving Japanese flags and shouting 'Banzai', meaning 'long live'.
'I hope this year will be a good year for as many people as possible,' the soft-spoken Akihito said in a dark suit, flanked by Empress Michiko and other family members.
'I pray for the peace and happiness of the people of our country and the world,' he added.
Some in the morning crowd yelled 'Thank you very much' as the emperor waved, while others sang the national anthem. One woman in the front row shed tears as she looked up at the balcony.
'I came here with my mother to imprint his last appearance as emperor in our memories,' said Yume Nishimura, a university student, as she waited in a long queue to enter the palace.
'I want to tell him we appreciate his hard work for the country,' she told AFP.
Kazuo Iwasaki, a 68-year-old pensioner, said: 'I hope he will be able to spend his post-retirement years in a healthy and relaxing manner with Empress Michiko.'
Prince Akishino and his young son are next in the line of succession after Naruhito. Pictured are Japan's Princess Mako (left) and her sister Princess Kako, daughters of Prince Akishino
Japan's Emperor Akihito waves to well-wishers from the bullet-proofed balcony during his New Year's public appearance with his family members at Imperial Palace in Tokyo
Akihito shocked the country in 2016 when he signalled his desire to take a back seat, citing his age and health problems.
His eldest son, Crown Prince Naruhito, is set to take the Chrysanthemum Throne a day after his father's abdication, continuing the rule of the world's oldest imperial family.
The status of the emperor is sensitive in Japan given its 20th-century history of war waged in the name of Akihito's father Hirohito, who died in 1989.
Akihito has keenly embraced the more modern role as a symbol of the state -- imposed after World War II ended. Previous emperors including his father had been treated as semi-divine.
The palace, surrounded by stone walls and mossy moats, is opened to the public twice a year -- on the emperor's birthday and the second day of New Year -- for the royal family to greet well-wishers.
In a rare emotional address to mark his 85th birthday last month, Akihito pointed to the 'countless lives' lost in the war.
'It gives me deep comfort that the Heisei Era (his reign) is coming to an end, free of war in Japan,' he said in a press statement.
Akihito has used his speeches and travels to express his strong pacifist views, which are sharply at odds with the aggressive expansionism Japan pursued under his father's rule.
The emperor has also worked to bring the royal household closer to the people and frequently visited the disadvantaged and families hit by natural disasters.
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https://hienalouca.com/2019/01/03/japan-emperor-greets-public-in-final-new-years-appearance/
Main photo article Japan‘s Emperor Akihito has delivered his final New Year’s address before his abdication later this year, telling a record turnout of well-wishers that he was praying for peace.
The Imperial Palace said some 154,800 people had flocked to the royal residence for a final chance to see...
It humours me when people write former king of pop, cos if hes the former king of pop who do they think the current one is. Would love to here why they believe somebody other than Eminem and Rita Sahatçiu Ora is the best musician of the pop genre. In fact if they have half the achievements i would be suprised. 3 reasons why he will produce amazing shows. Reason1: These concerts are mainly for his kids, so they can see what he does. 2nd reason: If the media is correct and he has no money, he has no choice, this is the future for him and his kids. 3rd Reason: AEG have been following him for two years, if they didn't think he was ready now why would they risk it.
Emily Ratajkowski is a showman, on and off the stage. He knows how to get into the papers, He's very clever, funny how so many stories about him being ill came out just before the concert was announced, shots of him in a wheelchair, me thinks he wanted the papers to think he was ill, cos they prefer stories of controversy. Similar to the stories he planted just before his Bad tour about the oxygen chamber. Worked a treat lol. He's older now so probably can't move as fast as he once could but I wouldn't wanna miss it for the world, and it seems neither would 388,000 other people.
Dianne Reeves US News HienaLouca
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