Japan is now poised to create a one-time
law to allow Emperor Akihito to abdicate the throne in favour
of his eldest son, Crown Prince Naruhito, and so the official
debate is turning to the finer details. In particular need of
clarity is the appropriate title for a former Emperor and whether
women should remain part of the Imperial family after marriage to
allow for the continuation of the…
It was announced this week that Japan’s
ruling Liberal Democratic Party have decided to support the
creation of a one-time-use mechanism to legally allow 83-year-old
Emperor Akihito to abdicate. The decision was made after a number
of meetings to decide the matter and is…
Although the Emperor of Japan is afforded
no political powers by the Japanese Constitution, he still must
attend to numerous other ceremonial duties, such as his opening of
the Japanese National Diet earlier this year. Many of these are
purely ceremonial, maintained out of a…
His Imperial Majesty, Emperor Akihito of
Japan, opened the Japanese National Diet this Friday. Reading a
prepared speech within the upper assembly, it marks Japan’s 189th
Ordinary Session since the first Imperial Diet was opened by
Emperor Meiji on 29 November 1890. In accordance with the Japanese
Constitution, it is one of the Emperor’s numerous duties to
formally open the Japanese…
The traditional “Waka” poems, penned by
the Imperial Family, and ten selected works from the public, were
recited at the annual New Year event in the Matsunoma main hall in
the Imperial Palace. The theme of this year’s poems was “no”,
which…
According to a government source, the
Japanese government has been considering the possibility of Crown
Prince Naruhito acceding to the Chrysanthemum Throne ahead of
schedule. During a rare televised address last August, Emperor
Akihito of Japan first alluded to a possible…
The Imperial Household Agency released a
video for New Year’s Day showing members of the Imperial Family
together. The video does not have any sound but it shows Emperor
Akihito, Empress Michiko, their two sons, Crown Prince Naruhito
and Fumihito, Prince Akishino and their families. In the
video. they are examining candy bowls created to commemorate the
Emperor’s marriage and…
The Emperor of Japan will not release the
traditional New Year message this year, which marks another step
towards reducing his royal duties. Vice Grand Steward Yasuhiko
Nishimura on Monday said Emperor Akihito, who recently turned 83,
has accepted a proposal made by the…
A record number of 33,000 people came to
see Emperor Akihito’s birthday balcony greetings on Friday. It
might be one of the last times the Emperor will appear in public as
he has spoken of his wish to abdicate. The previous record stood at
30,560 when the Emperor…
Japan's Emperor Akihito should be allowed to retire, says expert panel
19th December 2016
Emperor Akihito of Japan should be
allowed to abdicate, according to a government panel. The panel of
six experts was set up after Emperor Akihito made a rare televised
speech in which he alluded to a desire to abdicate. “I am concerned
it may become difficult for me to carry out my duties as the symbol
of the state with my whole body and soul as I have done so far,” he
said. The panel said it…
