TOKYO, April 30 -- Emperor Akihito will give a final farewell to the public later Tuesday in a ceremony to mark his abdication, the first by a Japanese monarch in 202 years. The 85-year-old emperor will make a final speech to the public at the state room within the Imperial Palace in the rite starting at 5 p.m. after Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, representing the general public, will offer words of gratitude. The emperor's elder son, Crown Prince Naruhito, 59, will accede to the throne on Wednesday. In the morning, the emperor performed his last rituals within the palace during his reign to ceremonially report his abdication to his ancestors. Clad in a dark orange traditional robe, the emperor paid a visit to sanctuaries within the palace precincts, including "Kashikodokoro," a shrine dedicated to the Shinto sun goddess Amaterasu, from whom the imperial family is said to be descended. He read out a statement to report to the ancestors that his abdication ceremony will be held later in the day. When performing important rituals, a Japanese emperor dons a type of costume called "Korozen no goho" that dates back to the ninth century. Some members of the imperial family, including the crown prince and the emperor's younger son Prince Fumihito, 53, and his wife Princess Kiko, 52, also attended the rites that lasted for about an hour. But Empress Michiko, 84, who has pains in her neck and arms, and Crown Princess Masako, 55, who is suffering from stress-induced illness, did not join the rituals. Braving the rain, a number of well-wishers gathered in front of the palace to mark the last day of the 30-year Heisei Era under the current emperor, taking commemorative photos and looking for a glimpse of members of the imperial family entering the palace for the rituals. The emperor will formally step down at midnight Tuesday, bringing an end to the Heisei Era. After that, he will no longer engage in official duties. On Wednesday, the new emperor will inherit traditional regalia, called "Sanshu no Jingi," including the sacred sword and jewel, as proof of his ascension to the Chrysanthemum Throne in the "Kenji to Shokei no gi" ceremony from 10:30 am. Later in the day, the new emperor will meet Abe and other representatives of the public for the first time since ascending the throne in the "Sokui go Choken no gi" rite beginning at 11:10 am. In 2016, Emperor Akihito indicated his desire to step down in a rare televised video message, citing concern he might not be able to fulfill official duties due to his advanced age. The following year, Japan's Diet enacted one-off legislation enabling him to do so.
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