Asian shares rallied and U.S. futures jumped Monday, with Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 topping 50,000 for the first time. Work on trade deals that might alleviate friction between the U.S., China and other major trading partners contributed to upbeat sentiment as U.

Naruhito's grandfather, Hirohito, known posthumously as the Emperor Showa, was treated as a god but renounced his divine status after Japan's World War Two defeat in 1945. Under the constitution, drafted by U.S. occupation forces, the emperor became the "symbol of the state and the unity of the people."

Support for Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s new government started on a high note according to polls conducted over the weekend, giving her some momentum as she prepares for a visit by US President Donald Trump that could give the new premier another boost.