Japan has officially entered a new imperial era. Japan's 85-year-old Emperor Akihito formally abdicated during a historic ceremony in Tokyo, becoming the country's first monarch to step down from the Chrysanthemum Throne in two centuries. His son, Crown Prince Naruhito, 59, was inaugurated as the 126th emperor on May 1, 2019, ushering in the Reiwa era. In his first official address, Naruhito paid tribute to his father and said he would keep in mind Akihito's devotion to peace. Akihito's reign -- and the Heisei era -- officially ended at midnight on April 30, 2019. Hereafter, he the will be known as Emperor Emeritus Akihito.