Japanese Emperor Akihito hints at abdication in rare televised address

In his second-ever video address to the public, Emperor Akihito suggested it is time to find ways to make the succession process smoother

Emperor Akihito, 82, said he is concerned it will become ‘more difficult for me to carry out my duties as the symbol of the state’ (Reuters)

The Emperor of Japan has expressed concern over his ability to carry out his duties fully as he ages, hinting that he would like to abdicate in a rare public statement.

In his second-ever video address to the public, Emperor Akihito suggested a need to consider how to make the succession process smoother.

"Fortunately I am now in good health. However, when I consider that my fitness level is gradually declining, I am worried that it may become more difficult for me to carry out my duties as the symbol of the state," he told the nation.

The 82-year-old did not explicitly refer to abdication in his pre-recorded address, which lasted around 10 minutes.

Japan's post-Second World War constitution restricts what the emperor can say as a symbolic monarch with no political power. Emperor Akihito repeatedly said he is aware of the constraints, with any explicit mention of abdication violating those restrictions.

The speech was seen in part as an attempt to explain to the public why he might want to abdicate, and presumably win public understanding when the time comes. Sources leaked the possibility to Japanese media almost four weeks ago, which set the stage for Monday's address.

The only other time he spoke to the nation via a television broadcast, In March 2011, the Emperor urged people to work hand-in-hand to help the victims of a massive earthquake and tsunami in northeastern Japan.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said he took Akihito's comments Monday seriously. “I think we have to thoroughly think what we can do to accommodate his concerns, taking into consideration the emperor's age and the current burden of official duties,” Mr Abe said.

Abdication would require parliament to approve a change in the law and Japanese media reports said the government may consider a change allowing Emperor Akihito's abdication that would not be applicable to his successors. Current law is largely inherited from a 19th-century constitution that banned abdication as a potential risk to political stability.

Emperor Akihito has been cutting back on official duties, with his heir, 56-year-old Crown Prince Naruhito, taking his place. There were limits to how far that could go, he said on Monday.

Emperor Akihito also spoke about the possibility of a regency being put in place – with Crown Prince Naruhito taking over if his father were incapacitated. However, he appeared to cast doubt on the prospect.

“Even in such cases [of a regency], however, it does not change the fact that the emperor continues to be emperor until the end of his life, even though he is unable to fully carry out his duties as the emperor,” Emperor Akihito said.

The idea of abdication has sparked opposition from Prime Minister Abe’s conservative base, which worries debate of the imperial family’s future could widen to the topic of letting women inherit and pass on the throne, something traditionalists are set against.

Crown Prince Naruhito's only child is a daughter. Only males can inherit the Chrysanthemum Throne, which after Crown Prince Naruhito would pass to his brother, Prince Akishino and then to nine-year-old nephew Hisahito.

Other conservatives worry devoting political energy to discussing abdication could sidetrack Mr Abe’s push to revise the US-drafted pacifist constitution.

Naotaka Kimizuka, an expert in monarchies at Kanto Gakuin University, told Reuters that the subject of female succession may just be avoided at this time.

“They will either revise the law without touching on (female) succession, or pass a special law,” Mr Kimizuka said, adding steps could be taken next year.

“It felt as if the emperor were saying 'Please hurry',” he added.