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| Japanese Emperor Akihito hints at abdication in rare televised address | Japanese Emperor Akihito hints at abdication in rare televised address |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The Emperor of Japan has expressed concern over his ability to carry out his duties fully as he ages. | The Emperor of Japan has expressed concern over his ability to carry out his duties fully as he ages. |
| In his second-ever televised address to the public, Emperor Akihito suggested a need to consider how to make the succession process smoother. | In his second-ever televised address to the public, Emperor Akihito suggested a need to consider how to make the succession process smoother. |
| "When I consider my age of over 80, as well as my gradually deteriorating physical condition despite being luckily healthy at this moment, I am concerned about being able to fulfill by duties as a symbol with the utmost efforts, as I have done so far," he told the nation. | |
| The 82-year-old did not explicitly refer to abdication in his pre-recorded address, which lasted around 10 minutes. | The 82-year-old did not explicitly refer to abdication in his pre-recorded address, which lasted around 10 minutes. |
| However he did suggest the possibility that a regency could be established if an emperor could not fulfil his duties because of age or illness. | However he did suggest the possibility that a regency could be established if an emperor could not fulfil his duties because of age or illness. |
| Even in that case, the emeperor would continue to be emperor until the end of his life, he added. | Even in that case, the emeperor would continue to be emperor until the end of his life, he added. |
| His remarks follow recent media reports suggesting he may want to abdicate in the coming years. | His remarks follow recent media reports suggesting he may want to abdicate in the coming years. |
| The monarch has reportedly told palace officials and his family he doesn't want to cling to his title with severely reduced responsibilities, and his two sons have accepted the idea. | The monarch has reportedly told palace officials and his family he doesn't want to cling to his title with severely reduced responsibilities, and his two sons have accepted the idea. |
| Legal changes would be needed to allow the emperor, a symbolic monarch with no political power, to abdicate. | |
| Emperor Akihito came to the throne on 7 January, 1989. | Emperor Akihito came to the throne on 7 January, 1989. |