Tsuyoshi Hoshino, the Heisei Era's last maestro of Japan's Diet formalities

Tsuyoshi Hoshino, who was tapped to be giji shinkō-gakari (facilitator of Diet proceedings) for the Diet's regular session this year, will be the last person to carry out this unique, century-old vocal performance in the Heisei Era, which will end when Emperor Akihito abdicates on April 30. "Seeing as I'll be carrying over this tradition from one era to another, I definitely feel its historical weight," he says.