Emperor Akihito expresses his thoughts on abdication in pre-arranged video messageEmperor Akihito expresses his thoughts on abdication in pre-arranged video messageEmperor Akihito expresses his thoughts on abdication in pre-arranged video messageEmperor Akihito expresses his thoughts on abdication in pre-arranged video messageEmperor Akihito expresses his thoughts on abdication in pre-arranged video message

August 8, 2016, Tokyo, Japan – Emperor Akihito addresses to the nation, expressing his thoughts on abdication in a video message from the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on Monday, August 8, 2016. Last month, the 82-year-old emperor was reported to have conveyed his wish to hand the throne to his 56-year-old son, Crown Prince Naruhito, due to concerns about his frail health and ability to fully perform his duties as symbol emperor. The Emperor ascended to the throne in 1989 upon the death of his father, Emperor Hirohito. (Photo by Natsuki Sakai/AFLO)

August 8, 2016, Tokyo, Japan – People watch a street TV as Japanese Emperor Akihito deliveres a video message to public in Tokyo on Monday, August 8, 2016. The 82-year-old Emperor indicated to his readiness to abdicate in the video message. (Photo by Yoshio Tsunoda/AFLO)

August 8, 2016, Tokyo, Japan – Emperor Akihito addresses to the nation, expressing his thoughts on abdication in a video message from the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on Monday, August 8, 2016. Last month, the 82-year-old emperor was reported to have conveyed his wish to hand the throne to his 56-year-old son, Crown Prince Naruhito, due to concerns about his frail health and ability to fully perform his duties as symbol emperor. The Emperor ascended to the throne in 1989 upon the death of his father, Emperor Hirohito. (Photo by Natsuki Sakai/AFLO)

August 8, 2016, Tokyo, Japan – Emperor Akihito addresses to the nation, expressing his thoughts on abdication in a video message from the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on Monday, August 8, 2016. Last month, the 82-year-old emperor was reported to have conveyed his wish to hand the throne to his 56-year-old son, Crown Prince Naruhito, due to concerns about his frail health and ability to fully perform his duties as symbol emperor. The Emperor ascended to the throne in 1989 upon the death of his father, Emperor Hirohito. (Photo by Natsuki Sakai/AFLO)

August 8, 2016, Tokyo, Japan – People watch a street TV as Japanese Emperor Akihito deliveres a video message to public in Tokyo on Monday, August 8, 2016. The 82-year-old Emperor indicated to his readiness to abdicate in the video message. (Photo by Yoshio Tsunoda/AFLO)

August 8, 2016, Tokyo, Japan – Emperor Akihito addresses to the nation, expressing his thoughts on abdication in a video message from the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on Monday, August 8, 2016. Last month, the 82-year-old emperor was reported to have conveyed his wish to hand the throne to his 56-year-old son, Crown Prince Naruhito, due to concerns about his frail health and ability to fully perform his duties as symbol emperor. The Emperor ascended to the throne in 1989 upon the death of his father, Emperor Hirohito. (Photo by Natsuki Sakai/AFLO)

August 8, 2016, Tokyo, Japan – Emperor Akihito addresses to the nation, expressing his thoughts on abdication in a video message from the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on Monday, August 8, 2016. Last month, the 82-year-old emperor was reported to have conveyed his wish to hand the throne to his 56-year-old son, Crown Prince Naruhito, due to concerns about his frail health and ability to fully perform his duties as symbol emperor. The Emperor ascended to the throne in 1989 upon the death of his father, Emperor Hirohito. (Photo by Natsuki Sakai/AFLO)

August 8, 2016, Tokyo, Japan – People watch a street TV as Japanese Emperor Akihito deliveres a video message to public in Tokyo on Monday, August 8, 2016. The 82-year-old Emperor indicated to his readiness to abdicate in the video message. (Photo by Yoshio Tsunoda/AFLO)

August 8, 2016, Tokyo, Japan – Emperor Akihito addresses to the nation, expressing his thoughts on abdication in a video message from the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on Monday, August 8, 2016. Last month, the 82-year-old emperor was reported to have conveyed his wish to hand the throne to his 56-year-old son, Crown Prince Naruhito, due to concerns about his frail health and ability to fully perform his duties as symbol emperor. The Emperor ascended to the throne in 1989 upon the death of his father, Emperor Hirohito. (Photo by Natsuki Sakai/AFLO)

August 8, 2016, Tokyo, Japan – Emperor Akihito addresses to the nation, expressing his thoughts on abdication in a video message from the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on Monday, August 8, 2016. Last month, the 82-year-old emperor was reported to have conveyed his wish to hand the throne to his 56-year-old son, Crown Prince Naruhito, due to concerns about his frail health and ability to fully perform his duties as symbol emperor. The Emperor ascended to the throne in 1989 upon the death of his father, Emperor Hirohito. (Photo by Natsuki Sakai/AFLO)

August 8, 2016, Tokyo, Japan – People watch a street TV as Japanese Emperor Akihito deliveres a video message to public in Tokyo on Monday, August 8, 2016. The 82-year-old Emperor indicated to his readiness to abdicate in the video message. (Photo by Yoshio Tsunoda/AFLO)

August 8, 2016, Tokyo, Japan – Emperor Akihito addresses to the nation, expressing his thoughts on abdication in a video message from the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on Monday, August 8, 2016. Last month, the 82-year-old emperor was reported to have conveyed his wish to hand the throne to his 56-year-old son, Crown Prince Naruhito, due to concerns about his frail health and ability to fully perform his duties as symbol emperor. The Emperor ascended to the throne in 1989 upon the death of his father, Emperor Hirohito. (Photo by Natsuki Sakai/AFLO)

August 8, 2016, Tokyo, Japan – Emperor Akihito addresses to the nation, expressing his thoughts on abdication in a video message from the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on Monday, August 8, 2016. Last month, the 82-year-old emperor was reported to have conveyed his wish to hand the throne to his 56-year-old son, Crown Prince Naruhito, due to concerns about his frail health and ability to fully perform his duties as symbol emperor. The Emperor ascended to the throne in 1989 upon the death of his father, Emperor Hirohito. (Photo by Natsuki Sakai/AFLO)

August 8, 2016, Tokyo, Japan – People watch a street TV as Japanese Emperor Akihito deliveres a video message to public in Tokyo on Monday, August 8, 2016. The 82-year-old Emperor indicated to his readiness to abdicate in the video message. (Photo by Yoshio Tsunoda/AFLO)

August 8, 2016, Tokyo, Japan – Emperor Akihito addresses to the nation, expressing his thoughts on abdication in a video message from the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on Monday, August 8, 2016. Last month, the 82-year-old emperor was reported to have conveyed his wish to hand the throne to his 56-year-old son, Crown Prince Naruhito, due to concerns about his frail health and ability to fully perform his duties as symbol emperor. The Emperor ascended to the throne in 1989 upon the death of his father, Emperor Hirohito. (Photo by Natsuki Sakai/AFLO)