AdvertisementJapan's Emperor Will Be Permitted To AbdicateJune 09, 2017Mark KatkovfacebookEmailJapan's parliament has approved a law permitting Emperor Akihito (left) to abdicate the throne as he requested. Members of the deliberately small royal family, including Empress Michiko (second from left), attend a spring garden party at the Akasaka Palace in Tokyo. (AFP/Getty Images)