I had been watching this for a while, but it became official when I stopped paying attention for a few months.
Following years of slowly declining health, Japanese emperor Akihito will abdicate at the end of April 2019, in his 30th year of reign following the death of his father Hirohito in January 1989. He will be succeeded by his eldest son Naruhito, who will choose a new reign title to be used on all subsequent coins. The Japanese mint has announced there will be commemorative coins to celebrate the current emperor's 30th anniversary and/or departure from the throne, as well as the enthronement of the new emperor.
Now I can finally stop feeling guilty for anticipating to add another page to my Japanese type set
