Emperor Akihito of Japan

Akihito 明仁
The Emperor in 2014.
Emperor of Japan
Reign	7 January 1989 – present
Enthronement	12 November 1990
Predecessor	Shōwa
Heir apparent	Crown Prince Naruhito
Prime Ministers	See list Noboru Takeshita Sōsuke Uno Toshiki Kaifu Kiichi Miyazawa Morihiro Hosokawa Tsutomu Hata Tomiichi Murayama Ryutaro Hashimoto Keizō Obuchi Yoshirō Mori Junichirō Koizumi Shinzō Abe Yasuo Fukuda Tarō Asō Yukio Hatoyama Naoto Kan Yoshihiko Noda Shinzō Abe
Born	(1933-12-23) 23 December 1933 (age 83) Tokyo City, Tokyo Prefecture, Japan (now Chiyoda, Tokyo)
Spouse	Michiko Shōda (m. 1959)
Issue	Naruhito, Crown Prince of Japan Fumihito, Prince Akishino Sayako, Princess Nori
Full name Akihito (明仁?)
House	Imperial House of Japan
Father	Emperor Shōwa
Mother	Empress Kōjun
Religion	Shinto
Signature

Japanese Imperial Family
HM The Emperor HM The Empress HIH The Crown Prince HIH The Crown Princess HIH The Princess Toshi HIH The Prince Akishino HIH The Princess Akishino HIH Princess Mako of Akishino HIH Princess Kako of Akishino HIH Prince Hisahito of Akishino HIH The Prince Hitachi HIH The Princess Hitachi HIH The Princess Mikasa HIH Princess Tomohito of Mikasa HIH Princess Akiko of Mikasa HIH Princess Yōko of Mikasa HIH The Princess Takamado HIH Princess Tsuguko of Takamado HIH Princess Ayako of Takamado

Styles of Emperor Akihito
Reference style	His Majesty
Spoken style	Your Majesty
Alternative style	Sir

HIH The Princess Mikasa

Akihito (明仁^?, born 23 December 1933) ( English pronunciation ) is the reigning Emperor of Japan (天皇, Tennō^?). He is the 125th emperor of his line according to Japan's traditional order of succession. Akihito succeeded his father Shōwa and acceded to the Chrysanthemum Throne on 7 January 1989. There has been ongoing coverage of his possible abdication due to age and health issues. 31 December 2018 and 1 January 2019 has been mentioned as possible dates of such abdication.

In Japan, the Emperor is never referred to by his given name, but rather is referred to as "His Majesty the Emperor" (天皇陛下, Tennō Heika^?) which may be shortened to "His Majesty" (陛下, Heika^?). In writing, the Emperor is also referred to formally as "The Reigning Emperor" (今上天皇, Kinjō Tennō^?). The Era of Akihito's reign bears the name "Heisei" (平成), and according to custom he will be renamed "Emperor Heisei" (平成天皇 Heisei Tennō; see "posthumous name") by order of the Cabinet after his death. At the same time, the name of the next era under his successor will also be established.