The government looks likely to choose April 30, 2019, as the date for Emperor Akihito's abdication, with Crown Prince Naruhito's succession to the throne to follow on May 1, a government source said Wednesday.
The government said earlier Wednesday that the Imperial House Council will hold a meeting on Dec. 1 this year to discuss potential dates, based on which the government will make its decision.
Advocates of scheduling the handover at the end of April argue that it would avoid a distraction during campaigning for unified local elections, expected to be held in March or April that year.