Emperor Akihito's abdication on Tuesday will end the three-decade Heisei era that began on Jan 8, 1989, one day after he inherited the throne upon the death of his father, Hirohito.

Japan’s emperor hands over throne, farewell to the Heisei era

The timing of Emperor Akihito&rsquo;s abdication, Japan&rsquo;s first in nearly two centuries, is to be discussed by a special panel that will meet from Dec. 1, the top government spokesman said on Wednesday.

Akihito, who turns 84 on Dec. 23 and has had heart surgery and treatment for prostate cancer, said in rare remarks last year that he feared age might make it hard to fulfill his duties.

A law adopted in June that allows him to step down and be succeeded by Crown Prince Naruhito, 57, left details, such as timing, to be worked out.

News the Imperial Household Council - whose 10 members include Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and the chief justice of the Supreme Court along with two royals - would convene grabbed domestic headlines after Abe called on Akihito on Tuesday, apparently to inform the emperor of the meeting.

Once considered divine, Japan&rsquo;s emperor is defined in the post-war constitution as a &ldquo;symbol of the state and of the unity of the people&rdquo;, and he has no political power.

But Akihito, who has spent much of his time on the throne seeking to soothe the wounds of a war fought in his father Hirohito&rsquo;s name, and consoling people suffering from disasters or other woes, is widely respected by many average Japanese.

At a special news conference to announce the meeting, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga did not comment on media reports that two options were being considered - March 31, 2019, or April 30 that year.

&ldquo;After hearing (the panel&lsquo;s) opinion, based on that, we would like to decide the date promptly,&rdquo; he said.

The government had proposed the emperor retire at the end of 2018 but Imperial Household Agency officials demurred, media have said, citing a cluster of rituals and other events around that time.

Some in government, however, now worry an alternate proposal of March 31, 2019, would be complicated by nationwide local elections set for that spring, media said.

Once Akihito steps down, a new &ldquo;imperial era&rdquo; will begin, replacing the current &ldquo;Heisei&rdquo;, or &ldquo;achieving peace&rdquo; period, which began on Jan. 8, 1989, the day he took the throne.

Japan uses the Western-style Gregorian calendar but has also preserved the ancient custom in which the reign of a new emperor ushers in a new era.

A law adopted in June that allows Emperor Akihito to step down and be succeeded by Crown Prince Naruhito, 57, left details, such as timing, to be worked out

The timing of Emperor Akihito’s abdication, Japan’s first in nearly two centuries, is to be discussed by a special panel that will meet from Dec. 1, the top government spokesman said on Wednesday. Akihito, who turns 84 on Dec. 23 and has had heart surgery and treatment for prostate cancer, said in rare remarks last year that he feared age might make it hard to fulfill his duties. A law adopted in June that allows him to step down and be succeeded by Crown Prince Naruhito, 57, left details, such as timing, to be worked out. News the Imperial Household Council - whose 10 members include Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and the chief justice of the Supreme Court along with two royals - would convene grabbed domestic headlines after Abe called on Akihito on Tuesday, apparently to inform the emperor of the meeting. Once considered divine, Japan’s emperor is defined in the post-war constitution as a “symbol of the state and of the unity of the people”, and he has no political power. But Akihito, who has spent much of his time on the throne seeking to soothe the wounds of a war fought in his father Hirohito’s name, and consoling people suffering from disasters or other woes, is widely respected by many average Japanese. At a special news conference to announce the meeting, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga did not comment on media reports that two options were being considered - March 31, 2019, or April 30 that year. “After hearing (the panel‘s) opinion, based on that, we would like to decide the date promptly,” he said. The government had proposed the emperor retire at the end of 2018 but Imperial Household Agency officials demurred, media have said, citing a cluster of rituals and other events around that time. Some in government, however, now worry an alternate proposal of March 31, 2019, would be complicated by nationwide local elections set for that spring, media said. Once Akihito steps down, a new “imperial era” will begin, replacing the current “Heisei”, or “achieving peace” period, which began on Jan. 8, 1989, the day he took the throne. Japan uses the Western-style Gregorian calendar but has also preserved the ancient custom in which the reign of a new emperor ushers in a new era.

Japan special panel to weigh timing of emperor's abdication

Reports that Japanese Emperor Akihito intends to abdicate within a few years could reopen debate about female succession, but any such move is likely to provoke strong opposition within the current conservative ruling party.

The 82-year-old monarch, who has had heart surgery and been treated for prostate cancer in recent years, expressed his intention to abdicate in a few years to the Imperial Household Agency, public broadcaster NHK said on Wednesday.

No reason was cited and agency officials later denied the earlier reports.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and other officials on Thursday declined to comment, but Akihito has been cutting back on official duties recently.

His place has been taken by his heir, 56-year-old Crown Prince Naruhito. But Naruhito has only one daughter, so since only males can inherit the Chrysanthemum Throne, the throne after Naruhito would pass to nine-year-old nephew Hisahito.

No Japanese emperor has abdicated since 1817 and the Imperial Household Law governing the royal family system would have to be revised to allow this, a process requiring parliamentary debate that could take years and might spill over into other areas, such as female succession.

&quot;This is something that has needed to be fixed,&quot; said Kenneth Ruoff, head of the Center of Japanese Studies at Portland State University, of the laws on abdication.&nbsp;&quot;When they open up the debate they will have to debate all kinds of things.&quot;

Before Hisahito, no male had been born into the imperial family for more than four decades. This prompted discussion of equal inheritance for women, a move opposed by traditionalists eager to preserve a male line they believe goes back more than 2000 years.

Most Japanese backed the proposed change and advisors to then Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi recommended that women be given equal rights to inherit, but debate was shelved when Hisahito was born the next year.

In March, Japanese officials including Prime Minister Shinzo Abe protested when a UN&nbsp;committee said it intended to criticise male-only inheritance as discriminatory. They said the UN&nbsp;move was &quot;totally inappropriate&quot; and disregarded Japanese history. The committee withdrew its criticism.

Key parts of Abe&#39;s political base want him to steer the nation back towards a traditional ethos including pride in the ancient imperial line.

Given that Hisahito is the only male of his generation and women in the imperial family leave it upon marriage, long-term succession remains far from assured. Proposed solutions include allowing women to remain and set up branch families, but debate has languished.

&quot;There&#39;s only two ways to continue an all-male line. One is to have concubines, which I don&#39;t think the people of Japan would accept ... The other would be to have lots of collateral families, which would get complicated,&quot; Ruoff said.

&quot;If they aren&#39;t going to change the law, this will happen again, there won&#39;t be a male heir. Maybe not for one hundred, two hundred years - but why not change the law now?&quot; 
 
(Reuters)

The 56-year-old crown prince has only one daughter. Since only males can inherit the throne, it would next go to his nine-year-old nephew

Reports that Japanese Emperor Akihito intends to abdicate within a few years could reopen debate about female succession, but any such move is likely to provoke strong opposition within the current conservative ruling party. The 82-year-old monarch, who has had heart surgery and been treated for prostate cancer in recent years, expressed his intention to abdicate in a few years to the Imperial Household Agency, public broadcaster NHK said on Wednesday. No reason was cited and agency officials later denied the earlier reports. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and other officials on Thursday declined to comment, but Akihito has been cutting back on official duties recently. His place has been taken by his heir, 56-year-old Crown Prince Naruhito. But Naruhito has only one daughter, so since only males can inherit the Chrysanthemum Throne, the throne after Naruhito would pass to nine-year-old nephew Hisahito. No Japanese emperor has abdicated since 1817 and the Imperial Household Law governing the royal family system would have to be revised to allow this, a process requiring parliamentary debate that could take years and might spill over into other areas, such as female succession. "This is something that has needed to be fixed," said Kenneth Ruoff, head of the Center of Japanese Studies at Portland State University, of the laws on abdication. "When they open up the debate they will have to debate all kinds of things." Before Hisahito, no male had been born into the imperial family for more than four decades. This prompted discussion of equal inheritance for women, a move opposed by traditionalists eager to preserve a male line they believe goes back more than 2000 years. Most Japanese backed the proposed change and advisors to then Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi recommended that women be given equal rights to inherit, but debate was shelved when Hisahito was born the next year. In March, Japanese officials including Prime Minister Shinzo Abe protested when a UN committee said it intended to criticise male-only inheritance as discriminatory. They said the UN move was "totally inappropriate" and disregarded Japanese history. The committee withdrew its criticism. Key parts of Abe's political base want him to steer the nation back towards a traditional ethos including pride in the ancient imperial line. Given that Hisahito is the only male of his generation and women in the imperial family leave it upon marriage, long-term succession remains far from assured. Proposed solutions include allowing women to remain and set up branch families, but debate has languished. "There's only two ways to continue an all-male line. One is to have concubines, which I don't think the people of Japan would accept ... The other would be to have lots of collateral families, which would get complicated," Ruoff said. "If they aren't going to change the law, this will happen again, there won't be a male heir. Maybe not for one hundred, two hundred years - but why not change the law now?" (Reuters)

Reports of Japan emperor's abdication could reopen debate about female succession

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