Japan emperor marks last birthday on throne, prays for peace

Japan's Emperor Akihito, marking his 85th birthday his last before his upcoming abdication said he feels relieved that his reign is coming to an end without having seen his country at war and that it is important to keep telling younger people about his nation's wartime history.

"It gives my deep comfort that the Heisei era is coming to an end, free of war in Japan," Akihito said at a news conference at the palace that was recorded this past week and released Sunday.

"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."