Akihito

Akihito was the former Emperor of Japan, serving from 1989 until his abdication in 2019. As the symbolic head of state, he represented Japan’s cultural heritage and national identity. Born in 1933, he pursued a focus on promoting peace and understanding both domestically and internationally. His reign, known as the Heisei era, was marked by efforts to modernize the monarchy and engage with global issues. In 2019, he became the first Japanese emperor to abdicate in over two centuries, passing the throne to his son, Naruhito.