The Japanese government is leaning toward setting March 31, 2019 as the date of Emperor Akihito's abdication, and the throne will pass to his elder son Crown Prince Naruhito the next day, government sources said Friday.As the first imperial abdication in two centuries will end the current Heisei era, the government is considering announcing a new era name within the next year, the sources said.Setting the abdication in 2019 means the current Heisei era, which began in 1989 following the death of Emperor Hirohito, the father of Emperor Akihito, will end at its 31st year. 
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