Japan’s Emperor Akihito attended a ceremony on Sunday to mark the 30th year of his reign while calling for the country to embrace openness in a more globalized world. The government-sponsored ceremony at the National Theater in Tokyo was attended by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Empress Michiko. “Japan has long cultivated its own culture as an island nation,” the 85-year-old emperor said. “But now the world is becoming more globalized. Published in Daily Times, February 25th 2019.