This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-36784045
The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Japanese Emperor Akihito 'plans to abdicate' | Japanese Emperor Akihito 'plans to abdicate' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Japan's Emperor Akihito has announced his intention to abdicate in the coming years, public broadcaster NHK reports. | Japan's Emperor Akihito has announced his intention to abdicate in the coming years, public broadcaster NHK reports. |
| The 82-year-old, who has had health problems in recent years, reportedly does not wish to remain emperor if he has to reduce his official duties. | The 82-year-old, who has had health problems in recent years, reportedly does not wish to remain emperor if he has to reduce his official duties. |
| He has been head of state for 27 years and his abdication would be an unprecedented move in modern Japan. | He has been head of state for 27 years and his abdication would be an unprecedented move in modern Japan. |
| His eldest son, Crown Prince Naruhito, 56, is next in line to succeed him to the Chrysanthemum Throne. | His eldest son, Crown Prince Naruhito, 56, is next in line to succeed him to the Chrysanthemum Throne. |
| He plays a largely ceremonial role but is respected deeply by many Japanese and has been admired for distancing the monarchy from its association with the aggressive nationalism of World War Two. | |
| Why Japan's World War Two surrender is still a sensitive subject | |
| Japan's Crown Princess Masako attends first banquet in 11 years | |
| Japan profile | |
| The BBC's Steve Evans in the capital, Tokyo, says Emperor Akihito would be the first Japanese emperor to abdicate in 200 years. | |
| Our correspondent says in 1989 he succeeded his father, Hirohito, who had had the status of a living god in Japan until he was stripped of that role by the victorious Americans who wrote the country's post-war constitution | |
| Emperor Akihito had surgery for prostate cancer in 2003 and a heart bypass operation four years ago. | |
| In 2011, he took the highly unusual step of making a televised national address following the devastating earthquake and tsunami at Fukushima. | In 2011, he took the highly unusual step of making a televised national address following the devastating earthquake and tsunami at Fukushima. |
| This was a revolutionary gesture in a country unused to even hearing or seeing emperors, our reporter says. | |
| Five things about Japan's Emperor: |