Emperor Akihito will abdicate on Tuesday after ruling since January 7, 1989. The 85-year-old Emperor of Japan is the first to abdicate in more than 200 years, with the last one by a Japanese monarch being in 1817. Akihito started citing concerns about his age and declining health in August 2016, expressing his wish to abdicate while he was still well and capable.

The long-reigning emperor received overwhelming support from the Japanese people as he expressed his wishes, and later received the government’s approval.

Emperor Akihito will announce his abdication in a palace ritual on Tuesday evening.

But he will technically remain the emperor until midnight, when his era of Heisei, or “achieving peace” ends.

Akihito will then give way for Naruhito to take over and his Reiwa era of “beautiful harmony” will begin.

Who is Emperor Akihito’s heir Naruhito?

Crown Prince Naruhito is Emperor Akihito’s son.

Naruhito, 59, will become emperor as the clock ticks midnight on Wednesday, but his formal enthronement will take place at a more elaborate ceremony in October.

On Wednesday morning, in his first ritual as emperor, he will receive the Imperial regalia, including the sword and the jewel, as proof of his ascension to the throne.

Aside from government officials, only adult male royals are allowed to attend the traditional ceremony.

The 59-year-old is the elder of Akihito’s two sons and is an Oxford-educated former diplomat.

He spent two years at the top university and wrote a paper on the 18th century Thames River transport systems after studying history at Gakushuin University.

Naruhito wife, Masako, is currently recovering from stress-induced conditions she developed after giving birth to their daughter Aiko amid pressure to produce a male heir.

Aiko, 17, is barred from inheriting under Japan’s male-only succession law, meaning the next heir will be Naruhito’s brother, Prince Fumihito, 53, better known by his childhood title, Akishino.

Fumihito’s son, Hisahito, 12, would then be next in the line of succession.

Discussions have previously taken place on changing the law to allow female succession, but it quickly ended with Hisahito’s birth

However, more discussions are expected to take place in the future, with Akihito’s abdication raising concerns about the family’s future.

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