Emperor emeritus Akihito turns 87

It too bad, you will not get a holiday on his birthday

He and his wife visited a total of 36 countries during the Heisei Era and in 1992 he became the first Japanese emperor to travel to China, which suffered from Japan's wartime aggression.

I wish his dream of visiting Korea comes true soon.

https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2019/05/eb2e3cabf929-s-korea-visit-left-as-unfinished-business-for-new-emperor.html

Looking ahead at a year when the two countries will co-host the World Cup finals, Akihito said he felt personal attachment to Korea because of the blood ties of his ancestors.

"I, on my part, feel a certain kinship with Korea, given the fact that it is recorded in the Chronicles of Japan that the mother of Emperor Kammu was of the line of King Muryong of Paekche," he told reporters.

Kammu, reigned Japan from 781 to 806 AD, while Muryong ruled the Paekche Kingdom in Korea from 501 to 523 AD.

Although he was quoting historical records, it is the first time that an emperor has publicly lauded the Korean blood in the imperial line.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2001/dec/28/japan.worlddispatch

Many happy Returns to him - I hope he celebrates well and stays healthy for a long time yet.

Happy Birthday Emperor Akihito.

Best wishes to him!

On a separate note;

Japan's parliament enacted one-off legislation the following year to enable him to do so.

Repeat a lie enough times and people will believe it as a fact! Fact, there was NO law stating he could not have stepped down, without the government wasting literally millions upon millions of yen, in setting up committees, holding meetings, and wasting the Diet's time on passing this UNEEDED legislation!

ONLY out of the kindness of his heart, did he have to wait over what, two years, for this to be passed and "authorized".

Again, there is NOTHING in the IHA "rules" and "laws" that state that the Emperor can not abdicate. Just because no one thought it would ever happen, did not make it so!

Happy Birthday to Emperor emeritus Akihito.