Japan emperor pre-abdication Shinto ritual

By Mari Yamaguchi
Updated April 18 2019 - 3:53pm, first published 3:51pm
Japanese Emperor Akihito, now 85, will retire on April 30 in the first abdication in 200 years.
Japanese Emperor Akihito, now 85, will retire on April 30 in the first abdication in 200 years.

Emperor Akihito has prayed at a Japanese shrine in a ritual to report his upcoming abdication to the Shinto gods.