Japan's Emperor Akihito to abdicate on April 30, 2019TOKYO (Reuters) - Emperor Akihito, who has spent much of his nearly three decades on Japan s throne seeking to soothe the wounds of World War Two, will step down on April 30, 2019 - the first abdication by a Japanese monarch in about two centuries. A 10-member Imperial Household Council of lawmakers, royals and supreme court justices, chaired by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, agreed on the timing on Friday. Akihito, who turns 84 on Dec. 23 and has had heart surgery and treatment for prostate cancer, said in rare remarks last year that he feared age might make it hard for him to fulfil his duties. He will be succeeded by his heir, 57-year-old Crown Prince Naruhito.  This is the first abdication by an emperor in 200 years and the first under the (post-war) constitution,  Abe told reporters after announcing the recommendation.  I feel deep emotion that today, the opinion of the Imperial Household Council was smoothly decided and a big step was taken toward the imperial succession.  The cabinet still has to sign off on the decision on the date, which it will likely do next week. Once considered divine, Japan s emperor is defined in the post-war constitution as a  symbol of the state and of the unity of the people , but has no political power. Akihito, along with Empress Michiko, has spent much time trying to address the legacy of World War Two, which was fought in the name of his father Hirohito, and consoling victims of disasters or other woes.  He is widely respected by average Japanese.  Both the emperor and empress thought tirelessly about the people,  said Taeko Ito, a 72-year-old caregiver.  Now he is elderly and I wish from my heart that he can have a rest.   Akihito and Michiko, the first commoner to wed a Japanese monarch, have worked to reconcile ties across Asia, soured by Japan s aggression before and during World War Two, with numerous visits abroad. In 1992, he became the first Japanese monarch in living memory to visit China, where bitter memories of the war run deep. During that visit the emperor said he  deeply deplored  an  unfortunate period in which my country inflicted great suffering on the people of China . Akihito has consistently urged the Japanese never to forget the horrors of war, remarks that have garnered increased attention since Abe took office in 2012 and sought to adopt a less apologetic tone over Japan s past military aggression.  He redefined the job. He wanted to modernise the monarchy and take care of the unfinished business ... and bring the imperial household closer to the people,  said Jeffrey Kingston, director of Asian studies at Temple University Japan.  He s been remarkably successful on all fronts. He is deeply admired and respected. His moral authority is unquestioned.  Once Akihito steps down a new  imperial era  will begin, replacing the current  Heisei  or  achieving peace  period which began on Jan. 8, 1989, the day he took the throne. Japan uses the Western-style Gregorian calendar but has also preserved the ancient custom in which the reign of a new emperor ushers in a new era. The last time a Japanese emperor abdicated was in 1817.  Post-war law had not allowed for abdication, so a one-off law was adopted in June to let Akihito step down, but it left details such as the timing to be worked out. An early proposal that he retire at the end of 2018, his 30th year on the throne, was rejected over worries it would conflict with rituals and other duties around then. Another date considered was March 31, 2019, the end of the business year. But subsequent ceremonies would have coincided with a busy time for many people and nation-wide local elections in early April, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said. Some Japanese lamented that the process was taking too long.  It s the same for me - life is not so long,  said a 79-year-old retiree, Asataro Nishizawa.  They should have granted his wish sooner, while he is still vigorous.  The abdication law did not address the problem of the future of an ageing, shrinking imperial family and the related issue of whether women should be allowed to ascend the throne. Eleven-year-old Prince Hisahito, the son of Akihito s younger son Prince Akishino, is the emperor s only grandson and will be second in line to the throne after his father following the abdication. Naruhito s daughter, Princess Aiko, who turned 16 on Friday, cannot inherit the males-only throne. worldnews
japan emperor akihito abdicate april reuters emperor akihito spent much nearly three decades japan throne seeking south wounds world war two step april first abdication japanese monarch two centuries a imperial household council lawmakers royals supreme court justices chaired prime minister shine abe agreed timing friday akihito turns heart surgery treatment prostate cancer said rare remarks last year feared age might make hard fulfil duties he succeeded heir crown prince naruto this first abdication emperor years first constitution abe told reporters announcing recommendation i feel deep emotion today opinion imperial household council smoothly decided big step taken toward imperial succession the cabinet still sign decision date likely next week once considered divine japan emperor defined constitution symbol state unity people political power akihito along empress michiko spent much time trying address legacy world war two fought name father hirohito consulting victims disasters woes he widely respected average japanese both emperor empress thought tirelessly people said talk ito caregiver now elderly i wish heart rest akihito michiko first commoner wed japanese monarch worked reconcile ties across asia sourced japan aggression world war two numerous visits abroad in became first japanese monarch living memory visit china bitter memories war run deep during visit emperor said deeply deployed unfortunate period country inflicted great suffering people china akihito consistently urged japanese never forget horrors war remarks garnered increased attention since abe took office sought adopt less apologetics tone japan past military aggression he redefined job he wanted modernist monarchy take care unfinished business bring imperial household closer people said jeffrey kingston director asian studies temple university japan he remarkably successful fronts he deeply admired respected his moral authority questioned once akihito steps new imperial era begin replacing current heise achieving peace period began day took throne japan uses gregorian calendar also preserved ancient custom reign new emperor users new era the last time japanese emperor abdicated law allowed abdication law adopted june let akihito step left details timing worked an early proposal retire end year throne rejected worries would conflict rituals duties around another date considered march end business year but subsequent ceremonies would coincided busy time many people local elections early april chief cabinet secretary yoshihide sugar said some japanese lamented process taking long it life long said retired astro nishizawa they granted wish sooner still vigorous the abdication law address problem future ageing shrinking imperial family related issue whether women allowed ascend throne prince hisahito son akihito younger son prince akishino emperor grandson second line throne father following abdication naruto daughter princess aik turned friday inherit throne worldnews
Your task is to classify the provided input as real or fake news. Label 0 is meant for fake news, Label 1 is for real news. TEXT: Japan's Emperor Akihito to abdicate on April 30, 2019TOKYO (Reuters) - Emperor Akihito, who has spent much of his nearly three decades on Japan s throne seeking to soothe the wounds of World War Two, will step down on April 30, 2019 - the first abdication by a Japanese monarch in about two centuries. A 10-member Imperial Household Council of lawmakers, royals and supreme court justices, chaired by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, agreed on the timing on Friday. Akihito, who turns 84 on Dec. 23 and has had heart surgery and treatment for prostate cancer, said in rare remarks last year that he feared age might make it hard for him to fulfil his duties. He will be succeeded by his heir, 57-year-old Crown Prince Naruhito.  This is the first abdication by an emperor in 200 years and the first under the (post-war) constitution,  Abe told reporters after announcing the recommendation.  I feel deep emotion that today, the opinion of the Imperial Household Council was smoothly decided and a big step was taken toward the imperial succession.  The cabinet still has to sign off on the decision on the date, which it will likely do next week. Once considered divine, Japan s emperor is defined in the post-war constitution as a  symbol of the state and of the unity of the people , but has no political power. Akihito, along with Empress Michiko, has spent much time trying to address the legacy of World War Two, which was fought in the name of his father Hirohito, and consoling victims of disasters or other woes.  He is widely respected by average Japanese.  Both the emperor and empress thought tirelessly about the people,  said Taeko Ito, a 72-year-old caregiver.  Now he is elderly and I wish from my heart that he can have a rest.   Akihito and Michiko, the first commoner to wed a Japanese monarch, have worked to reconcile ties across Asia, soured by Japan s aggression before and during World War Two, with numerous visits abroad. In 1992, he became the first Japanese monarch in living memory to visit China, where bitter memories of the war run deep. During that visit the emperor said he  deeply deplored  an  unfortunate period in which my country inflicted great suffering on the people of China . Akihito has consistently urged the Japanese never to forget the horrors of war, remarks that have garnered increased attention since Abe took office in 2012 and sought to adopt a less apologetic tone over Japan s past military aggression.  He redefined the job. He wanted to modernise the monarchy and take care of the unfinished business ... and bring the imperial household closer to the people,  said Jeffrey Kingston, director of Asian studies at Temple University Japan.  He s been remarkably successful on all fronts. He is deeply admired and respected. His moral authority is unquestioned.  Once Akihito steps down a new  imperial era  will begin, replacing the current  Heisei  or  achieving peace  period which began on Jan. 8, 1989, the day he took the throne. Japan uses the Western-style Gregorian calendar but has also preserved the ancient custom in which the reign of a new emperor ushers in a new era. The last time a Japanese emperor abdicated was in 1817.  Post-war law had not allowed for abdication, so a one-off law was adopted in June to let Akihito step down, but it left details such as the timing to be worked out. An early proposal that he retire at the end of 2018, his 30th year on the throne, was rejected over worries it would conflict with rituals and other duties around then. Another date considered was March 31, 2019, the end of the business year. But subsequent ceremonies would have coincided with a busy time for many people and nation-wide local elections in early April, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said. Some Japanese lamented that the process was taking too long.  It s the same for me - life is not so long,  said a 79-year-old retiree, Asataro Nishizawa.  They should have granted his wish sooner, while he is still vigorous.  The abdication law did not address the problem of the future of an ageing, shrinking imperial family and the related issue of whether women should be allowed to ascend the throne. Eleven-year-old Prince Hisahito, the son of Akihito s younger son Prince Akishino, is the emperor s only grandson and will be second in line to the throne after his father following the abdication. Naruhito s daughter, Princess Aiko, who turned 16 on Friday, cannot inherit the males-only throne. worldnews
Your task is to classify the provided input as real or fake news. Label 0 is meant for fake news, Label 1 is for real news. TEXT: japan emperor akihito abdicate april reuters emperor akihito spent much nearly three decades japan throne seeking south wounds world war two step april first abdication japanese monarch two centuries a imperial household council lawmakers royals supreme court justices chaired prime minister shine abe agreed timing friday akihito turns heart surgery treatment prostate cancer said rare remarks last year feared age might make hard fulfil duties he succeeded heir crown prince naruto this first abdication emperor years first constitution abe told reporters announcing recommendation i feel deep emotion today opinion imperial household council smoothly decided big step taken toward imperial succession the cabinet still sign decision date likely next week once considered divine japan emperor defined constitution symbol state unity people political power akihito along empress michiko spent much time trying address legacy world war two fought name father hirohito consulting victims disasters woes he widely respected average japanese both emperor empress thought tirelessly people said talk ito caregiver now elderly i wish heart rest akihito michiko first commoner wed japanese monarch worked reconcile ties across asia sourced japan aggression world war two numerous visits abroad in became first japanese monarch living memory visit china bitter memories war run deep during visit emperor said deeply deployed unfortunate period country inflicted great suffering people china akihito consistently urged japanese never forget horrors war remarks garnered increased attention since abe took office sought adopt less apologetics tone japan past military aggression he redefined job he wanted modernist monarchy take care unfinished business bring imperial household closer people said jeffrey kingston director asian studies temple university japan he remarkably successful fronts he deeply admired respected his moral authority questioned once akihito steps new imperial era begin replacing current heise achieving peace period began day took throne japan uses gregorian calendar also preserved ancient custom reign new emperor users new era the last time japanese emperor abdicated law allowed abdication law adopted june let akihito step left details timing worked an early proposal retire end year throne rejected worries would conflict rituals duties around another date considered march end business year but subsequent ceremonies would coincided busy time many people local elections early april chief cabinet secretary yoshihide sugar said some japanese lamented process taking long it life long said retired astro nishizawa they granted wish sooner still vigorous the abdication law address problem future ageing shrinking imperial family related issue whether women allowed ascend throne prince hisahito son akihito younger son prince akishino emperor grandson second line throne father following abdication naruto daughter princess aik turned friday inherit throne worldnews