Akihito abdicates as Japan marks end of era

Japanese Emperor Akihito, in the final remarks as his three-decade reign drew to a close, on Tuesday thanked people for their support and expressed hope for a peaceful future, Reuters reported.

Akihito, 85, the first Japanese monarch to abdicate in two centuries, has sought during his time on the throne to ease the painful memories of World War II and reach out to ordinary people, including those marginalized in society.

The popular Akihito was the first monarch to take the Chrysanthemum Throne under a post-war constitution that defines the emperor as a symbol of the people without political power.