TOKYO (Reuters) - Emperor Akihito, 84, spent much of his three decades on the throne seeking to soothe the wounds of war, reaching out to the those in need, and remaking the image of the imperial family into a "middle-class" monarchy.
Akihito will step down in favour of Crown Prince Naruhito on April 30, 2019, the first abdication by a Japanese monarch in nearly two centuries. Below are some key facts about the emperor.
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