The Japanese government is considering holding Emperor Akihito's abdication ceremony at the Imperial Palace on April 30, 2019 as a state occasion, government sources said Monday.The emperor, who is scheduled to retire on that day at the age of 85, will be the first Japanese monarch to step down in more than 200 years. His elder son Crown Prince Naruhito is set to ascend the throne the following day.The government is considering how to stage the first abdication ceremony in modern Japan without conflicting with the Constitution that prohibits the emperor from having political power. Under th…READ FULL ARTICLE
