[Playback ’16] The “Imperial House Law” Remains the Sticking Point… The “Inside Story” Behind Reports of the Emperor Emeritus’s “Intention to Abdicate While Still Alive”

Appearing before the public for the first time since the reports

What was *FRIDAY* reporting 10, 20, and 30 years ago? We take a look back at the topics that were the talk of the town at the time in [Playback Friday].This time, we feature the August 12, ’16 issue from 10 years ago : “Appearing Before the Public for the First Time Since the Report with a Radiant Smile: The Emperor Reveals His Intent to ‘Abdicate While Alive’ and His Determination for a ‘New Era of the Imperial Family.’”

On July 13, 2016, NHK’s *News 7* reported a completely unexpected scoop titled “His Majesty the Emperor’s Intention to ‘Abdicate While Alive.’”According to the report, Emperor Akihito (now the Emperor Emeritus) believed that “the throne should be held by someone who can fully fulfill the duties of the Emperor, ” and expressed the view that “if one can no longer fulfill those duties, one should abdicate.” Shinichiro Yamamoto, then Deputy Director-General of the Imperial Household Agency (the agency’s second-in-command), immediately denied the report, stating, “There is no truth to the report.”

However, this news served as the catalyst for the government to take significant steps toward implementing “abdication during one’s lifetime.” The article captures the Emperor and Empress (now the Emperor Emeritus and Empress Emerita) as they appeared before the public for the first time following the report (text in 《》 is quoted from past articles; titles are those held at the time).

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《The Emperor and Empress stayed at the Imperial Villa in Nasu Town, Tochigi Prefecture, from July 25 to 28, 2016, for a rest.

Around 1:00 p.m. on the 25th, more than 250 people gathered in front of Nasu-Shiobara Station to welcome them. This was their first public appearance in a place where ordinary citizens had gathered since their intention to abdicate while still alive was revealed on July 13.

The couple approached the crowd lining the street and responded with cheerful waves. When one person in the crowd called out, “Your Majesty, are you feeling well?”

“Thank you,”

the Emperor reportedly replied. His expression was radiant.》

In 2015, there were incidents such as mistakes in the sequence of events during ceremonies, and at a press conference in December of that year, the Emperor confided , “I will turn 82 on this birthday, and I have come to feel my age more often.” Perhaps the reports of his “abdication while still alive” made him feel as if a weight had been lifted from his chest.

A grueling daily schedule that belies his 82 years

As long as he holds the position of Emperor, he wishes to fulfill his public duties, but there may be times when his health makes that impossible. However, the Imperial House Law did not include provisions for abdication during one’s lifetime. While the law stipulated that a regent would be appointed if the Emperor found it difficult to carry out his duties, the Emperor’s “intention to abdicate during his lifetime” effectively raised questions about that provision.In an article from that time, a royal family journalist spoke about the problems with the Imperial House Law as follows:

“Under the current Imperial House Law, Prince Akishino’s status is unclear once the Crown Prince ascends to the throne. While some have suggested he be designated as the Second Prince, the Imperial House Law makes no mention of this.

Furthermore, Princess Mako and Princess Kako, who will support His Imperial Highness Prince Hisahito—the future Emperor—will become private citizens upon marriage, further reducing the already small Imperial Family.If we don’t act soon, the two of them will marry off, so we must also consider the issue of establishing female imperial houses.” (Imperial Household journalist) (Note: Under the 2019 “Act on Special Measures Concerning the Abdication of the Emperor, etc.,” Prince Akishino became the Heir Apparent, holding a status equivalent to that of the Crown Prince.)

The Emperor’s official duties are far more demanding than the public imagines. Even at the age of 82, he received documents from the Cabinet twice a week. Last year alone, the total number of such documents reached 1,000.Furthermore, the number of New Year’s events, greetings and audiences at the spring and fall garden parties, and other official receptions exceeded 100 per year. Inside the Imperial Palace, there is a whiteboard where officials from various ministries and agencies write down events for which they hope the Emperor and Empress will attend; it is said that the board was always completely filled up several months in advance.

Since the 2010s, the Emperor, the Crown Prince (the current Emperor), and Prince Akishino reportedly held monthly meetings, during which they sometimes discussed the role of the Emperor as a symbolic head of state.How should the “Imperial Family of the New Era” be shaped? The Crown Prince and Prince Akishino were coming to share the Emperor’s concerns, as reflected in his “abdication while still alive.”

Without altering the Imperial House Law

On August 8, 2016, the Emperor expressed his “feelings” in a video message lasting approximately 11 minutes.His remarks—that due to his advanced age, it had become difficult to fulfill his duties as a symbol with his whole heart and soul—had a profound impact on the public. Opinion polls conducted by various newspapers showed that 90 percent of respondents supported his abdication, indicating strong public backing.

Subsequently, following recommendations from a panel of experts, the Act on Special Measures Concerning the Abdication of the Emperor and Other Matters under the Imperial House Law was enacted in June 2017, and it was decided that the Emperor would abdicate effective April 30, 2019.However, because a “Special Measures Act” was enacted without amending the Imperial House Law itself, issues deemed in need of discussion—such as the establishment of female imperial houses and the matter of female and matrilineal emperors—remained unaddressed and were carried over.

The “source” who leaked the information to NHK—the first outlet to report on the Emperor’s “intention to abdicate while still alive”—is said to be a senior official at the Imperial Household Agency. In fact, it is believed that the Emperor had been conveying his intentions to those around him since around 2008, and it is said that a close aide, growing increasingly frustrated that the Prime Minister’s Office had not taken action, took matters into their own hands.

Ten years later, on July 17 of this year, the amended Imperial House Law was enacted. To ensure the number of imperial family members, the law stipulates that female imperial family members retain their status even after marriage, and that male-line descendants of former imperial houses be adopted into the imperial family.However, while the debate over whether to “recognize female emperors and emperors descended through the female line”—which had been the public’s primary concern—was set aside, the amendments—which appear to cement male-line succession—do not seem to have garnered much public understanding.

At a press conference on August 13, Prince Akishino stated regarding the amended Imperial House Law, “Since this concerns the system, I would prefer to refrain from comment.” However, when asked about the criticism that the views and feelings of the Imperial Family may not have been taken into account during the debate over the amendments, he responded as follows:

“I am a human being, after all, so of course I have various thoughts on the matter. I think it would be strange if I didn’t.”

The distance between the Imperial Family and the government appears to be no different than it was 10 years ago.