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In 2010, Emperor Akihito informed his advisory council that he would eventually like to retire from his position. However, no action was taken by senior members of the [[Imperial Household Agency]].<ref name="japan-forward.com">{{cite web|url=http://japan-forward.com/do-not-let-the-emperors-abdication-be-an-occasion-for-cynical-political-gain/|title=Do Not Let the Emperor's Abdication Be an Occasion for Cynical Political Gain – JAPAN Forward|date=11 May 2017|website=Japan-forward.com|access-date=6 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171224094226/http://japan-forward.com/do-not-let-the-emperors-abdication-be-an-occasion-for-cynical-political-gain/|archive-date=24 December 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>
On 13 July 2016, national broadcaster [[NHK]] reported that the Emperor wished to [[Abdication|abdicate]] in favour of his eldest son, Crown Prince [[Naruhito]] within a few years.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Japan's ailing 82-year-old emperor considers stepping down |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2016/08/07/after-shock-japan-warms-up-to-emperors-possible-abdication/88361562/|title=Japan's ailing 82-year-old emperor considers stepping down|websiteurl-status=USAlive TODAY|language=en|access-date=2019-05-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190428071213/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2016/08/07/after-shock-japan-warms-up-to-emperors-possible-abdication/88361562/ |archive-date=28 April 2019 |urlaccess-statusdate=live2019-05-04 |publisher=USA Today |language=en}}</ref>
Senior officials within the [[Imperial Household Agency]] denied that there was any official plan for the monarch to abdicate. A potential abdication by the Emperor would require an amendment to the [[Imperial Household Law]], which has no provisions for such a move.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20160713/k10010594271000.html |title=天皇陛下 「生前退位」の意向示される ("His Majesty The Emperor Indicates His Intention to 'Abdicate'") |publisher=NHK |language=ja |date=13 July 2016 |access-date=13 July 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160713100512/http://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20160713/k10010594271000.html |archive-date=13 July 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-36784045|title=Japanese Emperor Akihito 'wishes to abdicate'|work=BBC News|date=13 July 2016|access-date=17 July 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190410170615/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-36784045|archive-date=10 April 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>
=== National speech ===
On 8 August 2016, the Emperor gave a rare televised address, where he emphasized his advanced age and declining health;<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kunaicho.go.jp/page/okotoba/detailEn/12#41|title=Message from His Majesty The Emperor|date=8 August 2016|publisher=The Imperial Household Agency|access-date=8 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160808085753/http://www.kunaicho.go.jp/page/okotoba/detailEn/12#41|archive-date=8 August 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> this address was interpreted as an implication of his intention to abdicate.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-37007106|title=Japan's Emperor Akihito hints at wish to abdicate|work=BBC News|date=8 August 2016|access-date=8 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190428131517/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-37007106|archive-date=28 April 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="japan-forward.com1">{{cite web|url=https://japan-forward.com/the-emperors-abdication-sixteen-months-of-muted-conflict/|title=The Emperor's Abdication: Sixteen Months of Muted Conflict – JAPAN Forward|date=9 December 2017|website=Japan-forward.com|access-date=6 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180113062247/http://japan-forward.com/the-emperors-abdication-sixteen-months-of-muted-conflict/|archive-date=13 January 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>
[[Chief Cabinet Secretary]] [[Yoshihide Suga]] told reporters that the date was chosen to permit the old Emperor to be able to preside over the 30th anniversary Jubilee and to coincide with the [[Golden Week (Japan)|Golden Week]] annual holiday period, turning the changeover from a period of mourning and makeshift ceremonial into a joyous, well-planned festival.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://japantoday.com/category/politics/Emperor-Akihito-to-abdicate-on-April-30-2019|title=Emperor Akihito to abdicate on April 30, 2019|website=Japantoday.com|date=December 2017 |access-date=6 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171203224525/https://japantoday.com/category/politics/Emperor-Akihito-to-abdicate-on-April-30-2019|archive-date=3 December 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>
Finally, on 8 December 2017, the government created a special committee to oversee the events. According to Yoshihide Suga:, "Itit willwould "deal with the matter properly, taking into consideration the possible impact on the people's lives."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2017/12/05/national/special-panel-set-formally-approve-emperor-akihitos-abdication-date-april-30-2019/|title=Special panel set to formally approve Emperor Akihito's abdication date as April 30, 2019|date=5 December 2017|website=Japantimes.co.jp|access-date=6 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180202204303/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2017/12/05/national/special-panel-set-formally-approve-emperor-akihitos-abdication-date-april-30-2019/|archive-date=2 February 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>
== Preparations for the imperial transition, 2017–2019 ==
=== Golden Week, 2019 ===
The government consolidated the Golden Week into a special ten-day holiday block lasting from 27 April to 6 May. Even without the imperial transition, 29 April and 3–6 May were scheduled as national holidays in 2019, following the weekend of 27–28 April. To mark the imperial transition, the government determined that the abdication and enthronement would both be national holidays. Japanese law states that a regular work day sandwiched between two national holidays becomes a public holiday.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2017/12/06/national/japan-mulls-10-consecutive-days-off-around-crown-princes-succession/|title=Plan ahead: Japan to consider 10 consecutive days off around Crown Prince's succession|date=6 December 2017|website=Japantimes.co.jp|access-date=6 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180107185322/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2017/12/06/national/japan-mulls-10-consecutive-days-off-around-crown-princes-succession/|archive-date=7 January 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>
=== Calendars ===
[[File:Yoshihide Suga announcing new imperial era Reiwa 2 (cropped).jpg|thumb|[[Chief Cabinet Secretary]] [[Yoshihide Suga]] announces the new Imperial era "Reiwa" to the press.]]
Since the [[Meiji Restoration]] in 1867, a new [[Japanese era name|Japanese Eraera]] starts the day after the death of oldthe previous emperor. However, in Emperor Akihito's case, manufacturers of calendars, forms, and other paper products needed to know the new Eraera's name in advance to produce wares in a timely manner.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2017/06/14/national/big-headache-calendar-publishers-new-emperors-era-name-announcement-delayed/|title=Big headache for calendar publishers if new Emperor's era name announcement delayed|date=14 June 2017|website=Japantimes.co.jp|access-date=6 January 2018|via=Japan Times Online|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171204224433/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2017/06/14/national/big-headache-calendar-publishers-new-emperors-era-name-announcement-delayed/|archive-date=4 December 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.asiasentinel.com/society/japan-heisei-emperor-akihito-departs/|title=Japan's Heisei Emperor Departs, Taking his Calendar – Asia Sentinel|date=7 December 2017|website=Asiasentinel.com|access-date=6 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171208003325/https://www.asiasentinel.com/society/japan-heisei-emperor-akihito-departs/|archive-date=8 December 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="japan-forward.com" />
While the Eraera names for the [[Shōwa era|Shōwa]] and [[Heisei era]]s were kept state secrets until the deaths of the previous emperors, that was not possible in this case, because an abdication ishad been unprecedented since the 1889 [[Meiji Constitution]] was adopted. In order to prevent divisive debate on the subject, delaying the announcement as late as iswas practically possible, {{Snd}}either the old Emperor's birthday or his Jubileejubilee celebrations {{Snd}}had been suggested.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2018/02/17/national/japan-may-defer-announcement-new-era-name-year-end-later/|title=Japan may delay release of new era name until year-end or later|date=17 February 2018|via=Japan Times Online|access-date=4 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180305063804/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2018/02/17/national/japan-may-defer-announcement-new-era-name-year-end-later/|archive-date=5 March 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>
Until the Eraera name became known, computers and software manufacturers needed to test their systems before the transition in order to ensure that the new era willwould be handled correctly by their software. Some systems provided test mechanisms to simulate a new era ahead of time.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/shawnste/2018/04/12/the-japanese-calendars-y2k-moment/|title=The Japanese Calendar's Y2K Moment|date=12 April 2018 |access-date=21 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180622005137/https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/shawnste/2018/04/12/the-japanese-calendars-y2k-moment/|archive-date=22 June 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>
The new Eraera name, {{Nihongo|[[Reiwa]]|令和}}, was revealed on 1 April 2019 by [[Chief Cabinet Secretary]] [[Yoshihide Suga]] during a televised press conference.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/in-japan-reiwa-becomes-the-new-name-for-a-new-era-under-a-new-emperor/2019/04/01/8e60752c-5430-11e9-a047-748657a0a9d1_story.html |title=Japan names new imperial era 'Reiwa,' a symbol of the country's hopes for the future |last=Denyer |first=Simon |date=2019-04-01 |newspaper=The Washington Post|language=en-US |access-date=2019-04-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190402195337/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/in-japan-reiwa-becomes-the-new-name-for-a-new-era-under-a-new-emperor/2019/04/01/8e60752c-5430-11e9-a047-748657a0a9d1_story.html |archive-date=2 April 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref>
== Enthronement Ceremony ==
[[File:Enthronement Ceremony of Emperor Naruhito 2.png|thumb|right|Emperor Naruhito during the Enthronement Ceremony]]
The '''formal [[Enthronement of the Japanese emperor|Enthronement Ceremonyenthronement]] forof Emperor Naruhito''' took place inat the [[Imperial Palace, Tokyo|Imperial Palace]] in [[Tokyo]] on 22 October 2019, marking the end of the transition period. It was an extra holiday.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nippon.com/en/genre/society/l10784/|title=Japan May Make New Emperor's Proclamation Date Nonworking Day (News)|date=13 February 2018|access-date=18 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180313162339/https://www.nippon.com/en/genre/society/l10784/|archive-date=13 March 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> It was attended by current and former Japanese politicians and more than 3,000 other official guests, which included more than 120 heads of state and government, as well as high-profile delegates from about 210 countries and territories and 9 organizations (the only country not to be invited to this ceremony was [[Syria]]).<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://royalcentral.co.uk/asia/japan/a-look-at-the-events-surrounding-japans-enthronement-ceremony-132338/ |title=A look at the events surrounding Japan's Enthronement Ceremony |date=21 October 2019 |access-date=5 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200605163002/https://royalcentral.co.uk/asia/japan/a-look-at-the-events-surrounding-japans-enthronement-ceremony-132338/ |archive-date=5 June 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref>
The Enthronement Ceremonyceremony began at 9 am [[Japan Standard Time|JST]] (02:00 [[Coordinated Universal Time|UTC]]) with the private "{{Nihongo|2=賢所大前の儀|3=Kashikodokoro-OmaeŌmae-no-gi"}} ritual when the Emperor, dressed in white traditional court wear, visited "Kashikodokorothe Kashiko-dokoro," the main sanctuary in the Tokyo Imperial Palace where the Sun Goddess is said to be enshrined.<ref name="NHK World">{{cite web|url=https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/backstories/723/|title=Imperial enthronement ceremony as it happened|date=22 October 2019|publisher=NHK World|access-date=25 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191022131436/https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/backstories/723/|archive-date=22 October 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>
At 1 pm [[Japan Standard Time|JST]] (06:00 [[Coordinated Universal Time|UTC]]), the main ceremonyportion began. Inof the ceremony, began. Emperor [[Naruhito]] wore the [[sokutai]] and [[Empress Masako]] wore the [[jūnihitoe]]. He thenThey took histheir placeplaces on the 6.5-metre (21-foot) Takamikura throne alongside Masako at the Matsu-no-Ma (Pine Hall), and the Emperor gave a speech which emphasized his role as the symbol of the State.<ref name="NHK World" /> The speech then followed by a congratulatory speech by [[Prime Minister of Japan|Prime Minister]] [[Shinzo Abe]] and [[Ten thousand years|three cheers of banzai]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dailyherald.com/article/20191022/news/310229949/|title=Japanese Emperor Naruhito ascends Chrysanthemum Throne|date=22 October 2019|work=Daily Herald|access-date=25 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191025070450/https://www.dailyherald.com/article/20191022/news/310229949/|archive-date=25 October 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>
=== Guests ===
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