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| Japanese Emperor Akihito 'wishes to abdicate' | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Japan's Emperor Akihito has expressed his desire 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. |
| Emperor Akihito 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. | |
| The BBC's Steve Evans in the capital, Tokyo, says 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. | 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. | 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. | This was a revolutionary gesture in a country unused to even hearing or seeing emperors, our reporter says. |
| Five things about Japan's Emperor: | Five things about Japan's Emperor: |