TOKYO - The Imperial Household Agency is considering holding a farewell ceremony for Japan's former Emperor Akihito at the Imperial Palace upon his death as part of efforts to scale back the ceremony, a source familiar with the matter said Wednesday.
The plan would make the ceremony substantially smaller in scale than that held for Emperor Hirohito, posthumously known as Emperor Showa, reflecting the emperor emeritus' wish to minimize the impact on civilian life.
The 92-year-old former emperor abdicated the Chrysanthemum Throne on April 30, 2019.
A state funeral for Emperor Showa was held in February 1989 at the park in Tokyo's Shinjuku Ward, drawing approximately 10,000 attendees, including heads of state from around the world.
The park, where the farewell ceremony also took place, was closed to the public, and extensive preparations were required.
