End of an era, literally: Japan to name new imperial epoch on April 1

By CNN,

It's the dawning of the age of ... something. Japan will reveal the name of the country's next era on April 1, as the country prepares for the abdi...

Emperor Akihito , JAPAN , new imperial epoch

Japan Emperor marks last birthday on throne

By VOA,

Japan's Emperor Akihito, marking his 85th birthday — his last before his upcoming abdication — said he feels relieved that his reign is ending wit...

Crown Prince Naruhito , Elizabeth Vining , Empress Michiko , JAPAN , Japan's Emperor Akihito , World War II

Japanese Princess Ayako gives up royal status to marry commoner

By Reuters,

Princess Ayako married commoner Kei Moriya on Monday at a traditional ceremony at Tokyo’s Meiji Shrine, to become the latest female royal to leave J...

JAPAN , Kei Moriya , Princess Ayako

Record birthday crowd for Japan Emperor as abdication looms

By Reuters,

A record crowd paid their respects to Japan’s 84-year-old Emperor Akihito at Tokyo’s Imperial Palace on Saturday, in his first birthday celebratio...

Chrysanthemum Throne , Crown Prince Naruhito , Emperor , Emperor Akihito , Imperial Palace , JAPAN , Japan Emperor , Japan Imperial Palace , Record birthday crowd for Japan Emperor as abdication looms , Tokyo , Tokyo Imperial Palace , Tokyo’s Imperial Palace

Japan prepares to mourn victims of 2011 earthquake and tsunami

By Agencies,

Japan on Friday prepared to mourn the thousands who lost their lives in a massive earthquake and tsunami five years ago that turned towns to matchwood...