Academics who have interacted with Emperor Akihito, a keen marine biologist, during his visits to Britain have paid tribute to the monarch and offered warm wishes ahead of his abdication at the end of this month.
The Emperor has long-established links with scientific communities in Japan and abroad. He is known for his research on the various flora and fauna found in the gardens of the Imperial Palace in Tokyo and has published academic papers on the biology of goby fish.
The Emperor's foreign tours have often included visits to science and nature-related organizations, among them a tour of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, in southwest London, during a state visit to Britain in 1998. Botanist Ghillean Prance, 81, then-president of the gardens, led the tour and recalled the Emperor's enthusiasm.