Japanese gov't approves ordinance to hold emperor's abdication ceremony

TOKYO - The Japanese government approved on Tuesday an ordinance on holding Emperor Akihito's abdication ceremony on April 30, 2019.

The ceremony is expected to be held as a state occasion at the Imperial Palace, with about 300 attendants including the prime minister and heads of both houses of the parliament.

The ordinance also specified that the emperor and Empress Michiko will be treated in the same way as the new emperor and his family members in terms of living costs and security guards after abdication.

Japanese Emperor Akihito indicated his wish to relinquish and hand over the throne to the crown prince in a rare video message in August 2016, citing his age.

Japanese parliament enacted in June last year a law to allow Emperor Akihito to step down and pass his duties over to Crown Prince Naruhito.

The law, designed specially for the current emperor, would allow Emperor Akihito to be the first Japanese emperor to relinquish the throne in two centuries.

Crown Prince Naruhito is set to ascend the throne on May 1, 2019.