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By Philip Whiteside, international news reporter

Question: What was Donald Trump told was "100 times bigger" than the Super Bowl?

According to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, it is the investiture of the country's new emperor, which is due to start on Wednesday and which Mr Trump asked whether he should attend.

It brings to an end the reign of Emperor Akihito, who abdicated on Tuesday. He is the first emperor to step down out of choice in more than 200 years.

The new emperor of what some believe to be home of the oldest hereditary monarchy in the world is the former Crown Prince, Oxford-educated Naruhito.

Who is Akihito and why is he quitting?

When Akihito became head of state in 1989, he inherited the legacy of a monarchy that was mired in controversy.

The previous emperor, Hirohito, was head of his country during the Second World War.

Japan formed an alliance with Nazi Germany and fascist Italy and many historians have said Hirohito, impressed at the success of Germany's armed forces, pushed to follow their example, leading to the Pearl Harbour attack and full scale war in the east.

Hirohito's eventual humiliating surrender, after millions of lives were lost, shaped the way Japan saw itself and its monarchy in all subsequent generations.

His father was never prosecuted for war crimes, as leaders of other axis countries were if they survived, and Akihito eventually inherited a Japan that had rebuilt itself to the point it was the world's second largest economy.

Akihito broke with centuries of tradition by marrying a commoner in 1959 and, after his accession, continued with a more informal, modern style, making efforts to meet his people and travelling around a country where the older generation still hold deep-seated, and in Western eyes almost fawning, respect.

He has spoken of his "remorse" for the war and offered condolences for all those who died, amid ongoing resentment at Japanese brutality against prisoners of war and civilian populations in countries Japan invaded.

In 2016, at the age of 82, he announced he feared his age was making it difficult for him to fulfil his duties, prompting the government to discuss abdication.

Who will be the new Imperial family?

Naruhito is the elder of Akihito's two sons, with his wife Empress Michiko.

Unlike his father, who became a teenager soon after the war ended, Naruhito's formative years were during the period when Japan powered ahead, at the forefront of technological developments.

At the age of 23, he started three years at the University of Oxford where he wrote a thesis on boat travel on the Thames in the 18th century and gathered inspiration for his later memoir The Thames and I.

While in England, he took part in drama, played tennis and golf and enjoyed climbing each of the highest mountains in England, Scotland and Wales.

On meeting the British royal family, he was amazed at the relaxed manners of members like the Queen and also travelled around meeting other members of European royal families.

Just after finishing at Oxford, he met the daughter of a Japanese Harvard law professor, Masako Owada, who would herself go on to study at Oxford. He had to ask her hand three times and in 1993 they married.

The couple are said to have struggled with the demands of their position, with the crown princess, who has one daughter, failing to provide the male heir required to succeed under Japanese law.

She is reported to have suffered from stress-induced depression and has largely stayed out of the limelight since the early 2000s.

Their 17-year-old daughter, Princess Aiko, has spent some time at Eton and is said to be a fan of sumo wrestling.

She will not inherit the throne and is expected to lose her royal title if she marries a commoner. The next emperor is likely to be her cousin, Prince Hisahito, the son of Prince Akishino and his wife Princess Kiko, or it might be his father, who is next in line to the throne.

What is happening over the next few weeks and months?

On Saturday, a 10-day holiday celebrating the succession started across Japan - an extended version of the Golden Week which every year coincides with four days-worth of official holidays to celebrate various emperors' birthdays and other national events.

Travellers rushed to visit tourist spots, with many heading to the Imperial Palace which will be the centre of the action.

During Golden Week, many Japanese companies close down completely, and this year, with the addition of three more days of holidays adding to the incentive for many to get away, it is expected many may give their workers the whole holiday period off.

A ceremony took place on 30 April in the Imperial Palace's Hall of Pine, broadcast on national TV, in which officials carried in various seals and two of Japan's Three Sacred Treasures before Mr Abe announced the abdication and Akihito made his final remarks.

On 1 May, the seals and two 'treasures' were placed in front of the new emperor as proof of his rightful succession in a ceremony attended by a small group of adult male royalty and senior government ministers. After, Naruhito made his first remarks, which were closely observed for signs of his goals for his reign.

On 4 May, Naruhito and Masako make their first public appearance as emperor and empress, greeting well-wishers at the Imperial Palace. They appear six times during the day and are expected to be seen by as many as 100,000 people.

Later in the autumn, on 22 October, Naruhito is officially enthroned in a ceremony expected to be attended by dignitaries from up to 200 countries. Soon after, on 14 and 15 November, the new emperor will hold a thanksgiving ceremony, offering newly harvested rice and sake wine to his ancestors.

What will Naruhito have to do as emperor?

Unlike that of his grandfather, who was head of the country's army and navy, Naruhito's role as head of the Chrysanthemum Throne, as Japan's seat of power is known, will be purely symbolic.

The constitution, written in 1946, states that the emperor is "the symbol of the State and of the unity of the people".

But, like in Britain, he is officially responsible for appointing the prime minister based on the result of elections and officially sanctioning laws and treaties, according to the will of the government.

Like the Queen, he will have to receive guests of the state and make overseas visits to further the diplomatic interests of his country.

He will also be expected to maintain contact with the people of Japan, by attending events.

One of his first international roles will be to attend major sporting events Japan is hosting, including the Olympic Games, of which he is a national patron, and possibly the Rugby World Cup.

He may also have to host Mr Trump who promised to visit after the investiture on 24 and 25 May.

What is not so clear is whether Naruhito will be able to continue his UN-level interest in ensuring countries around the world have supplies of drinking water.

What will happen to Akihito and his wife?

Akihito will hold a new title, Emperor Emeritus, but will be fully retired from official duties.

He will no longer be expected to receive foreign dignitaries, attend government events or perform palace rituals and will even be banned from attending his son's succession rituals.

Although there is no precedent in recent times, Mr Abe's government has decided his activities should be strictly private so as not to interfere with the serving emperor.

But he is expected to enjoy his retirement, possibly by indulging his interest in museums and concerts.

His interests include researching the goby fish, one branch of which was named after him in 2005.