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.