Japan’s Emperor Hints at Wish to Abdicate

Local Editor

Japan's Emperor Akihito said he fears age and deteriorating health mean he is finding it difficult to continue in his role.

The revered 82-year-old emperor's comments came in his second-ever televised address to the public.

While he did not use the word "abdicate", he strongly indicated that he wishes to hand over his duties.

PM Shinzo Abe said the government would take the remarks "seriously" and discuss what could be done.

Akihito, who has had heart surgery and was treated for prostate cancer, has been on the throne in Japan since the death of his father, Hirohito, in 1989.

In his 10-minute pre-recorded message, he said he had "started to reflect" on his years as emperor, and contemplate his position in the years to come.

If he were to abdicate, it would be the first time a Japanese emperor has stepped down since Emperor Kokaku in 1817.

Right wing nationalists who support Abe's government do not want any change to the current law, which insists emperors must serve until they die.

Emperor Akihito said he hoped the duties of the emperor as a symbol of the state could continue steadily without any breaks.

He said one possibility when an emperor could not fulfil his duties because of age or illness was that a regency could be established.

But he suggested this was not the ideal outcome, saying: "I think it is not possible to continue reducing perpetually the emperor's acts in matters of state and his duties as the symbol of the state."

Akihito's eldest son, 56-year-old Crown Prince Naruhito is first in line to the Chrysanthemum throne, followed by his younger brother Prince Akishino. Women are not allowed to inherit the throne and so Princess Aiko, the daughter of Crown Prince Naruhito, cannot succeed her father.

Immediately after, Abe said he took the fact the emperor had spoken to the people of Japan "seriously".

"Upon reflecting how he handles his official duty and so on, his age and the current situation of how he works, I do respect the heavy responsibility the emperor must be feeling and I believe we need to think hard about what we can do."

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team