Abdication hint shows Akihito objects to Abe's charter plans

Japanese right-wing politicians seek to revive imperial system: report

Japanese Emperor Akihito on Monday hinted at his readiness to abdicate, citing reasons of health and old age.

Chinese experts and media suggested that Akihito's decision could also be an indirect warning against Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's ambition to revise the pacifist constitution.

"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," the 82-year-old emperor said in a videotaped message on Monday.

Akihito took the throne after the death in 1989 of his father, Hirohito, in whose name Japan fought World War II.

He has sought to soothe the wounds of the war in Asia during overseas trips and tried to bring the monarchy closer to the people.

A Japanese emperor cannot comment on the imperial system. Akihito did not mention the word abdication in his speech. But the Japanese media said it was clear he wanted to step down, letting his heir, 56-year-old Crown Prince Naruhito, take his place.

Abe responded quickly after the speech, saying his government will consider the emperor's remarks seriously.

A survey by the Asahi Shimbun newspaper published Monday showed that 84 percent of people surveyed backed the idea.

Meaningful timing

The speech comes in a historically sensitive month. The country commemorated the US atomic bombing of Hiroshima on Saturday and will do so again on Tuesday for Nagasaki. And August 15 marks the 71st year since Hirohito announced the defeat of Japan after a war of invasion in eastern Asia.

In August last year, Akihito expressed "deep remorse" over World War II atrocities. Abe, however, in his anniversary speech said Japan should not repeatedly apologize for its past.

A social media account run by the overseas edition of the People's Daily said the timing of the emperor's message is directly linked to his opposition to Abe's attempt to revise the pacifist constitution formed after World War II.

Although a Japanese emperor is not supposed to publicly comment on politics, it is an open secret that Akihito is against right-wing politicians who are trying to change the constitution to allow Japan greater military power.

The Japanese upper house held an election on July 10, with Abe's Liberal Democratic Party and coalition parties securing more than two-thirds of the seats, paving the way for Abe's push for a constitutional amendment.

Japanese media said Akihito had tried to publicize his intention to abdicate days before the July 10 election. The NHK news was delayed to three days after the election because of pressure from the Abe administration.

The media said Akihito must have pushed for the eventual broadcast of the abdication.

Akihito's plan to retire while he is still alive is also intended to make the title a normal job, and to prevent right-wing politicians from deifying the emperor as if in wartime, the People's Daily overseas edition said on WeChat.

Right-wing conservatives not only want to change the pacifist constitution, but also want to resume the old ideology themed on the imperial system, the article said.

Yang Bojiang, director of Japanese studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said it is clear Akihito differs from Abe's so-called normalization of the country.

"It is interesting that in the past an emperor was the core of the militarist system and a spiritual pillar. Now, the emperor distances himself from right-wing forces in terms of attitude toward history and future development," Yang told China National Radio.

However, Yang said the emperor's abdication may require an amendment to the constitution, which may open a window to Abe's attempt to revise other parts of the constitution, including Article 9, that states the Japanese people forever renounce war.