Emperor Akihito

Akihito, the Emperor of Japan, abdicated on April 30, 2019. This 3-parts NHK World documentary series chronicles the life of a former "divine child" who became the symbol of the Japanese State when he ascended the throne in 1989.

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Created By
Status	Ended
Original Name	Emperor Akihito
First Air Date	April 27, 2019
Last Air Date	April 29, 2019
Seasons	1
Episodes	3
Episode Runtime	1h 13min
Language	English, Japanese
Original Language	English
Production Countries	Japan
Production Companies
Networks	NHK

S01E03

The Symbol of a Nation

Crown Prince Akihito ascends to the throne in 1989 and the Heisei Era dawns. Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko devise new ways to interact with the public, and actively seek opportunities to offer comfort after earthquakes and other disasters. They make a landmark diplomatic visit to China with a message of friendship. Throughout his reign, Emperor Akihito has explored his role as the symbol of the State and of the unity of the People. Eventually, foreseeing a time when he can no longer perform his duties as he wishes, the Emperor decides to abdicate.

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