Japan’s Emperor, who reportedly intends to abdicate the throne, is expected to express his thoughts to the public on Monday in a video message, according to sources close to the matter.
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An unnamed palace official told the broadcaster that officials discussed the possibility of Akihito expressing his feelings in December previous year.
Akihito, however, is expected to avoid explicit reference to abdication, a step not written in imperial law and that would require a legal process he can not request.
The emperor will make the rare statement following news reports in mid-July that he wishes to hand over the throne to Crown Prince Naruhito, 56, as the emperor’s advanced age could one day prevent him from fully carrying out his official duties. During the August 15, 2015, anniversary of the end of World War II, Akihito started reading a statement when he was supposed to observe a moment of silence.
After the initial surprise, the public warmly welcomed the reported abdication plan, saying the hard-working emperor deserves to enjoy his long-overdue retirement.
According to a nationwide telephone survey by Kyodo News agency this month, almost 90% of the respondents said Akihito is given too much work, while more than 85% said an abdication should be legalised as an option for him and his successors. According to sources, the Emperor asked Imperial Household Agency officials to study not only reigning emperors but also how “joko”, or retired emperors, spent their time after relinquishing the throne.
Palace officials quickly denied the report, because the emperor is not supposed to say anything that would cause a change to the existing system, including his constitutional status.
Akihito’s father, Hirohito, in whose name Japan’s military campaigns of the 20th century were carried out, was treated as a living god until defeat in 1945. He became the first emperor to do so as the symbol of the state and the unity of the people, the new status given to the world’s oldest hereditary monarchy under the postwar Constitution.
The idea faces stiff opposition from Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s conservative base, who worry abdication will trigger debate about allowing a woman to become emperor.
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