photo: AP / Katsumi Kasahara)
Assisted by a Shinto priest Japan's Emperor Akihito, center, offers prayers at Musashino Imperial Mausoleum in Hachioji in the western suburbs of Tokyo, marking the 20th anniversary of late Emperor Hirohito's death Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2009. Akihito, 75, commemorated the 20th anniversary of his reign on Wednesday, but with no notable plans other than the trip to the grave of his father who died on January 7, 1989. Standing at right is Prince Akishino, the second son of Akihito.
photo: European Community, 2008
José Manuel Barroso, on the right, and Akihito, Emperor of Japan
photo: (AP Photo / Toru Hanai, Pool)
Japan's Emperor Akihito
photo: (AP Photo/Katsumi Kasahara) / AP
Japan's Emperor Akihito flag
photo: Creative Commons / Shawnc
Akihito.
photo: EPA PHOTO EPA JANEK SKARZYNSKI
POLAND - JAPAN - SIGHTSEEING
photo: AP / Katsumi Kasahara
Japan's Emperor Akihito, left, is escorted by a Shinto priest after offering prayers at Musashino Imperial Mausoleum in Hachioji in the suburbs of Tokyo during the 20th anniversary of late emperor Hirohito's death Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2009. The anniversary comes as the Akihito, 75, has cut back his official duties due to an irregular pulse and bleeding from his stomach, symptoms imperial doctors have attributed to "mental stress."
photo: Creative Commons / Shawnc
Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko visiting the Richmond Olympic Oval in Richmond, B.C., Canada on July 10, 2009.
photo: Creative Commons / Kai Brinker (User:Newkai)
Plaque in Vienna's Lainzer Tiergarten commemorating a visit by Japanese Emperor Akihito and his wife Michiko.
photo: AP / Koji Sasahara
Mauritania's President Sidi Mohamed Ould Cheikh Abdallahi, right, talks with Japanese Emperor Akihito
photo: AP / Koji Sasahara
Japanese Emperor Akihito reads statement to open parliamentary session in Tokyo Monday, Sept. 29, 2008.
photo: EPA PHOTO EPA/JANEK SKARZYNSKI/js mda
WAR03 - 20020709 - WARSAW, POLAND : Polish President Aleksander Kwasniewski (C) with his wife Jolanta (2-L) talk to Japanese Emperor Akihito (L) and his wife Emperess Michiko in front of the presidential palace in Warsaw on 09 July 2002. Emperor Akihito
photo: AP / Charles Dharapak
U.S. President Barack Obama, left, bows as he is greeted by Japanese Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko, not pictured, as he arrives at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, Saturday, Nov. 14, 2009.
photo: AP / Sang Tan
Tourists Akihito Suzuki, left, and Terashima Junpei from Japan, seen near the Houses of Parliament in London, Wednesday, April 29, 2009.
photo: AP / Shizuo Kambayashi
Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko attend at the memorial service at the Budokan martial arts hall in Tokyo Friday, Aug. 15, 2008 to mark the 63rd anniversary of Japan's surrender in World War
photo: AP / Koji Sasahara
Japan's Princess Masako, left, and Crown Prince Naruhito wave as Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko depart for the two-week tour to Canada and Hawaii, at the Tokyo International Airport in Tokyo Friday, July 3, 2009.
photo: US Navy / Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Patrick Murray
His Imperial Majesty Emperor of Japan Akihito lays a wreath during a ceremony at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Punchbowl.
photo: AP / Koji Sasahara
Turkish President Abdullah Gul, second from left, poses with Japanese Emperor Akihito, his wife Hayrunnisa, second from right, and Empress Michiko as they visit Imperial Palace in Tokyo Thursday, June 5, 2008.
photo: Creative Commons / Cutter
Photos of setup including stage, monitors and seating in front of Tokyo Imperial Palace during celebration of the 20th anniversary of Emperor Akihito's ascension to the throne.
photo: (AP Photo/The Imperial Household Agency of Japan, HO) /
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, right, speaks with Japanese Emperor Akihito during his audience at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo Thursday, April 12, 2007. Wen was on a three-day "ice-melting" trip to Japan.
photo: PIB of India / Photo Division, Ministry of I & B, Govt. of India
The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh and his wife Smt. Gursharan Kaur with the Emperor of Japan, His Majesty Akihito and the Empress of Japan, Her Majesty Michito, at Imperial Palace, in Tokyo, Japan on October 25, 2010.
photo: AP / Shizuo Kambayashi
Japan's Emperor Akihito, center, stands as Crown Prince Naruhito and his wife Crown Princess Masako enter a bulletproof balcony at Imperial Palace in Tokyo during an annual New Year's public appearance Friday, Jan. 2, 2009.
photo: AP / Koji Sasahara
Japanese Emperor Akihito, left, and Empress Michiko see off African leaders and their spouses after a tea party at Imperial palace in Tokyo Friday, May 30, 2008. The tea party was held for leaders who have attended a three-day African development conference in Yokohama, near Toky
photo: AP / Imperial Household Agency of Japan
In this photo released by Imperial Household Agency of Japan, Emperor Akihito addresses the nation at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo Wednesday, March 16, 2011, after Friday's powerful earthquake and tsunami that hit northeastern Japan. He expressed his condolences and urged Japan not to give up
photo: US Navy / Photographer's Mate 2nd Class Nathanael T. Miller
Japanese Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko take a moment to talk with U.S. Army Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) Cadet Lt. Colonel Janelle Reye and Cadet Sgt. Major Vanrrie Deleon Guerrero.
photo: AP / Shizuo Kambayashi, Pool
Japan's Emperor Akihito, top left, and Empress Michiko, top fourth right, arrive to meet evacuees at a shelter for people who fled their houses because of radiation fear by the March 11 tsunami-crippled Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant in Fukushima, northeastern Japan, Wednesday, May 11, 2011.
photo: AP / Imperial Household Agency, HOn
In this photo released by the Imperial Household Agency, Japan's new Prime Minister Taro Aso, 2nd right, receives a certificate from Emperor Akihito, left, during an installation ceremony at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2008
photo: REGIERUNGonline/Kugler
Tokio, 30.08.07: Gespräch mit Kaiser Akihito, Merkel. ula1
photo: Public Domain / Fg2
The Emperor's Birthday.
photo: Creative Commons / Alexanderps
Crown Prince Naruhito.
