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| Japan's Emperor Akihito says health is failing and hints at abdication | Japan's Emperor Akihito says health is failing and hints at abdication |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Japanese Emperor Akihito has made a rare national television address in which the 82-year-old monarch expressed his fears for his health and his ability to carry on as emperor, hinting that he wanted to stand down. | Japanese Emperor Akihito has made a rare national television address in which the 82-year-old monarch expressed his fears for his health and his ability to carry on as emperor, hinting that he wanted to stand down. |
| Speaking in a 10-minute pre-recorded address Akihito talked of wanting an orderly imperial family succession although he did not explicitly say he wanted to abdicate. | Speaking in a 10-minute pre-recorded address Akihito talked of wanting an orderly imperial family succession although he did not explicitly say he wanted to abdicate. |
| Public broadcaster NHK had reported last month that Akihito, who has had heart surgery and been treated for prostate cancer, wanted to step down in a few years – a move that would be unprecedented in modern Japan. | Public broadcaster NHK had reported last month that Akihito, who has had heart surgery and been treated for prostate cancer, wanted to step down in a few years – a move that would be unprecedented in modern Japan. |
| Related: Japan's Emperor Akihito not preparing to abdicate, palace insists | Related: Japan's Emperor Akihito not preparing to abdicate, palace insists |
| Once considered divine, Japan’s emperor is defined in the constitution as a symbol of the “unity of the people” and has no political power. | Once considered divine, Japan’s emperor is defined in the constitution as a symbol of the “unity of the people” and has no political power. |
| Before the announcement it was thought unlikely he would state outright that he wanted to step down, which could have been interpreted as interfering in politics. | Before the announcement it was thought unlikely he would state outright that he wanted to step down, which could have been interpreted as interfering in politics. |
| In his taped address Akihito said: “When I consider that my fitness level is gradually declining, I am worried that it may become difficult for me to carry out my duties as the symbol of the state with my whole being, as I have done until now. | In his taped address Akihito said: “When I consider that my fitness level is gradually declining, I am worried that it may become difficult for me to carry out my duties as the symbol of the state with my whole being, as I have done until now. |
| “There are times when I feel various constraints such as in my physical fitness.” | “There are times when I feel various constraints such as in my physical fitness.” |
| He did however moot the idea of appointing a regent who would be able to carry out the duties the emperor was not specifically able to to do. He appeared to suggest that in such a case the emperor would remain in title at least. | He did however moot the idea of appointing a regent who would be able to carry out the duties the emperor was not specifically able to to do. He appeared to suggest that in such a case the emperor would remain in title at least. |
| “It is conceivable that a regent could be appointed,” he said. | “It is conceivable that a regent could be appointed,” he said. |
| Akihito is said to feel strongly that an emperor’s full performance of his duties is integral to his constitutional role as a symbol of the people’s unity, according to monarchy experts. | Akihito is said to feel strongly that an emperor’s full performance of his duties is integral to his constitutional role as a symbol of the people’s unity, according to monarchy experts. |
| Opinion polls have shown the vast majority of ordinary Japanese sympathise with the emperor’s desire to retire, but legal changes would be needed to allow him to do so. | Opinion polls have shown the vast majority of ordinary Japanese sympathise with the emperor’s desire to retire, but legal changes would be needed to allow him to do so. |
| Prime Minister Shinzo Abe made a swift response to the emperor’s speech saying the government would take the emperor’s remarks “seriously”. | |
| “Considering the emperor’s duties, as well as his age and the burden (of the job), we have to firmly look at what we can do,” he said. | |
| The idea of the emperor standing down has sparked opposition from Abe’s conservative base, who worry debate on the imperial family’s future could widen to the topic of letting women inherit and pass on the throne, anathema to traditionalists. | |
| Akihito has been cutting back on official duties recently, his place taken by his heir, 56-year-old crown prince Naruhito. | |
| Naruhito has only one daughter. Since only males can inherit the Chrysanthemum throne, the title after Naruhito would pass to his brother, Prince Akishino, and then to nine-year-old nephew Hisahito. | Naruhito has only one daughter. Since only males can inherit the Chrysanthemum throne, the title after Naruhito would pass to his brother, Prince Akishino, and then to nine-year-old nephew Hisahito. |
| Others worry that devoting political energy to discussing abdication could sidetrack Abe’s push to revise the US-drafted pacifist constitution, seen by many conservatives as a symbol of Japan’s humiliating defeat in the second world war. | Others worry that devoting political energy to discussing abdication could sidetrack Abe’s push to revise the US-drafted pacifist constitution, seen by many conservatives as a symbol of Japan’s humiliating defeat in the second world war. |
| Akihito ascended the throne after the death of his father, Hirohito, in whose name Japan fought the war. He has sought to soothe the wounds of the conflict in Asia and tried to bring the monarchy closer to the people. | Akihito ascended the throne after the death of his father, Hirohito, in whose name Japan fought the war. He has sought to soothe the wounds of the conflict in Asia and tried to bring the monarchy closer to the people. |
| The emperor’s recorded were only the second time Akihito has addressed the public in such a fashion. The first was after a massive earthquake, deadly tsunami and nuclear disaster hit northeast Japan in March 2011. | The emperor’s recorded were only the second time Akihito has addressed the public in such a fashion. The first was after a massive earthquake, deadly tsunami and nuclear disaster hit northeast Japan in March 2011. |
| Abe is expected to issue a statement saying he takes the emperor’s remarks seriously, domestic media reported, in remarks carefully worded to avoid appearing to politicise the issue. | Abe is expected to issue a statement saying he takes the emperor’s remarks seriously, domestic media reported, in remarks carefully worded to avoid appearing to politicise the issue. |