Japan’s Emperor Akihito steps down this Tuesday after 30 years on the throne – and one of his many legacies is how he healed the scars of World War II with countries in the region. Some analysts, including RSIS adjunct fellow Naoko Kumada, said beyond what Emperor Akihito has done during his three decades as monarch, his act of abdication in itself could also affect Japan’s direction and, in turn, its relationships with the region and the rest of the world.