Article Photos: Emperor turns 79, concerned about aging Japan

Japan's Emperor Akihito waves to a crowd of well-wishers through the bulletproof glass of a balcony, during a morning appearance to mark his 79th birthday, at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo Sunday, Dec. 23, 2012. (AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi)

Japan's Emperor Akihito waves to a crowd of well-wishers through the bulletproof glass of a balcony, during a morning appearance to mark his 79th birthday, at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo Sunday, Dec. 23, 2012. (AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi)