Since ascending the Chrysanthemum Throne 20 years ago, Emperor Akihito has been committed to standing by disaster victims, disabled people, the elderly and war victims harmed by the former Imperial Japanese Army during World War II.
Emperor Hirohito, known posthumously as Showa, died Jan. 7, 1989. As the eldest son, the current Emperor officially ascended the throne on Nov. 12, 1990.
On Jan. 31, 1995, he and Empress Michiko visited a gymnasium in Nishinomiya, Hyogo Prefecture, where survivors of the Great Hanshin Earthquake were taking shelter.