Japanese Emperor Akihito has celebrated his 80th birthday, waving to a huge crowd from a balcony at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo.
Japanese Emperor Celebrates 80th Birthday
![Japan's Emperor Akihito waves to well-wishers who gathered to celebrate his 80th birthday at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, Dec. 23, 2013. ](https://gdb.voanews.com/CCF555C3-C785-4770-95ED-0B0FE4069FCD_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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Japan's Emperor Akihito waves to well-wishers who gathered to celebrate his 80th birthday at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, Dec. 23, 2013.
![Japan's Emperor Akihito, accompanied by his wife Empress Michiko, and their family members, wave at well-wishers as they appear on the balcony of the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, Japan, Dec. 23, 2013.](https://gdb.voanews.com/2E3453B1-6A48-455D-9498-FBE82F069CC5_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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Japan's Emperor Akihito, accompanied by his wife Empress Michiko, and their family members, wave at well-wishers as they appear on the balcony of the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, Japan, Dec. 23, 2013.
![Well-wishers cross a bridge outside the Imperial Palace as they make their way to celebrate Emperor Akihito's 80th birthday in Tokyo, Dec. 23, 2013. ](https://gdb.voanews.com/03EDA63B-200E-48A4-B416-E807C6859DB8_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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Well-wishers cross a bridge outside the Imperial Palace as they make their way to celebrate Emperor Akihito's 80th birthday in Tokyo, Dec. 23, 2013.
![Japan's Crown Prince Naruhito, Emperor Akihito, Crown Princess Masako and Empress Michiko stand in front of well-wishers at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, Dec. 23, 2013. ](https://gdb.voanews.com/7A7A6840-0FD2-4165-9D33-C86F2E9C3F79_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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Japan's Crown Prince Naruhito, Emperor Akihito, Crown Princess Masako and Empress Michiko stand in front of well-wishers at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, Dec. 23, 2013.