Emperor Akihito said Sunday he has dedicated the past 30 years of his reign to an "endlessly long" quest to fathom out his role as the symbol of the state, expressing hopes that his successors will pick up where he left off and update the idea as they adapt to the changing times.
Looking back on the past 30 years of the Heisei Era, the Emperor also suggested Japan's days as a complacent island country are coming to an end, noting that globalization is placing pressure on the nation to adopt a more outward-looking posture and to "sincerely" approach relations with other countries. Heisei means "achieving peace."
The Emperor was speaking at a government-sponsored event at the National Theatre in Tokyo held to commemorate the 30th anniversary of his enthronement. It also coincided with preparations for his coming abdication.