Video PlayerClose

TOKYO, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- In his final New Year's address from the throne on Wednesday, Japan's Emperor Akihito expressed his ongoing hopes for world peace, with a record number of visitors and well-wishes expected to visit the Imperial Palace throughout the day.

"I hope this year will be a good year for as many people as possible. At the beginning of the year, I pray for the peace and happiness of the people of our country and the world," Japan's emperor said.

Akihito, 85, in a rare nationally-televised address in Aug. 2016, expressed his desire to relinquish his duties as emperor owing to concerns about his age, health and ability to carry out his formal duties.

No living emperor in Japan has abdicated the throne in around 200 years.

On Dec. 23, to mark his last birthday on the throne, Emperor Akihito said he felt relieved that his reign is coming to an end.

He went on to say that during his reign as Japan's honorary monarch, he was also happy that he has not seen his country at war and that it is extremely important to keep educating younger people about Japan's true wartime history.

"It gives my deep comfort that the Heisei era is coming to an end, free of war in Japan. It is important not to forget that countless lives were lost in World War II and that the peace and prosperity of postwar Japan was built upon the numerous sacrifices and tireless efforts made by the Japanese people, and to pass on this history accurately to those born after the war," said the emperor.

Japan observed the 73rd anniversary of its surrender in World War II on Aug. 15 of 2018, with a number of events held nationwide throughout the day to reflect on the annual occasion and to pray for peace.

Emperor Akihito, in his final address on the issue since his ascension in 1989, spoke, as always, with a conciliatory tone and of the remorse he felt for the war and how the ravages of war should never be repeated.

"Looking back on the long period of post-war peace, reflecting on our past and bearing in mind the feelings of deep remorse, I earnestly hope that the ravages of war will never be repeated," Akihito, whose duties have taken him to many countries that were brutalized by Japan to try and heal the wounds and pray for the lives lost.

"Together with all of our people, I now pay my heartfelt tribute to all those who lost their lives in the war, both on the battlefields and elsewhere, and pray for world peace and for the continuing development of our country," Japan's emperor said.

On Dec. 21, Japan's Cabinet approved a record-high 101.46 trillion yen (913 billion U.S. dollars) budget plan for fiscal 2019.

The budget comprises expenditures including a total of 14.4 billion yen (130 million U.S. dollars) allocated to activities related to the abdication of Emperor Akihito and the ascension of Crown Prince Naruhito to the Chrysanthemum Throne on May 1.

The expense has been a polarizing topic in society, with some taxpayers averse to having to foot the bill for such a lavish ceremony and peripherals, while others seem happy to keep up with Japan's long-held tradition.

On Tuesday, a government source also confirmed that the new "genko," which means "era name" will be signed off by the Cabinet of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on April 1.

Abe is slated to inform the public on Friday in detail about the arrangement for the era change during a press conference on the matter, sources with knowledge of the mater said.

The current era is called "Heisei," which means "achieving peace." The current era began on Jan. 8, 1989 following the death of Emperor Showa, better known as Emperor Hirohito, the father of Emperor Akihito, who will abdicate the Chrysanthemum Throne.

While modern Japan tends to use the Gregorian calendar, a new era name is important for Japanese people as it will hold a particular meaning. The new era name will also have to be used on official documents.