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Japan's Emperor Akihito likely to abdicate at end-March 2019 - Asahi

 

Japan's Empress Michiko poses for a photo with Emperor Akihito at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, in this handout picture taken September 27, 2017 and provided by the Imperial Household Agency of Japan. Imperial Household Agency of Japan/HANDOUT via Reuters

 

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's Emperor Akihito is likely to abdicate at the end of March 2019 and Crown Prince Naruhito is expected to ascend the throne in April, the first abdication by a Japanese monarch in nearly two centuries, the Asahi newspaper reported on Friday.

 

The government is in the final stage of formalising the schedule, said the Asahi, citing several sources.

 

Ahikito, 83, who has had heart surgery and treatment for prostate cancer, said in rare public remarks last year he feared age might make it hard for him to continue to fulfill his duties.

 

He will be succeeded by Naruhito, 57, and a new era will start from April 1, the Asahi reported.

 

The expected schedule would minimise the impact on people in changing to a new imperial reign from the current Heisei Era, which started in 1989 after the death of Akihito's father Hirohito, according to the Asahi.

 

Also, the Imperial Household Agency wanted the transition to take place in spring 2019 as many ritual events are scheduled for the imperial family in autumn and winter, the report said.

 

Akihito, the first Japanese emperor who was never considered divine, has worked for decades at home and abroad to soothe the wounds of World War Two which was fought in his father Hirohito's name.

 

In a written remarks of her 83rd birthday on Friday, Empress Michiko said that she thought this year her travels with Emperor Ahikito around Japan might be their last and have become deeply emotional.

 

The Empress also said she felt "an immeasurable sense of peace" that Akihito will be able to rest and spend quiet days after years of pursuing how the Emperor should be.

 

(Reporting by Kaori Kaneko; Editing by Michael Perry)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-10-20

[boomerangutang]

bye bye Mr. do-nothing Japanese monarch.  I guess it's off to a comfy house with maids and a sea-view.  Don't choke on the silver spoon in your mouth.

[Andaman Al]

2 hours ago, boomerangutang said:

bye bye Mr. do-nothing Japanese monarch.  I guess it's off to a comfy house with maids and a sea-view.  Don't choke on the silver spoon in your mouth.

Well to be fair he had no choice that someone rammed a silver spoon in his mouth the day he was born. What would you like him to have done? Japan is a constitutional Monarchy, what do you want him to have done? The sins were his Father's.

Edited October 20, 2017 by Andaman Al