Japan’s Emperor Akihito (L) delivers his speech as Empress Michiko (2nd L) stands next to him during the abdication ceremony at the Matsu-no-Ma state room in the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on April 30, 2019. Emperor Akihito of Japan formally stepped down on April 30, 2019, the first abdication for 200 years in the world’s oldest monarchy, as his son Naruhito