Emperor Akihito will end his three year reign after he becomes the first Japanese monarch to abdicate in more than 200 years.

His resgination has been marked due to ageing and ill health. The 85 year old has been given legal permission to step down. In the first private ceremonies of the day, the emperor reported his abdication to the mythological ancestors of Japan's imperial family.The 85-year-old said in a rare address in 2016 that he feared his age would make it hard for him to carry out his duties, foreshadowing this weeks stand down as monarch.

Akihito was respected for his efforts in pulling Japan out of the devestation caused by the Second World War and leading the country to a prosperous future. The Emperor of Japan holds no politcal power but serves as a national symbol for the country. 

In his final speech, Akihito said he "wished for Japan, world peace and prosperity".

Tuesday's ceremony will be the first time anyone alive will watch a Japanese abdication. Son of Akihito, Crown Prince Naruhito, will ascend the Chrysanthemum throne on Wednesday morning, inheriting the Imperial Treasures, beginning a new era for the country.

Image By Lance Cpl. Achilles Tsantarliotis | | July 15, 2009