Emperor Akihito and his abdication

[Kitty1224]

So when will they have the tiara ceremony where all the royals from other countries attend the new coronation?

 

[Prisma]

The enthronement ceremony for Emperor Naruhito is on October 22. However, don't expect tiaras at the enthronement ceremony. The tiara event is the banquet that evening.

Remarks by the Emperor at abdication ceremony - The Mainichi

Asian leaders offer thanks to outgoing Japan emperor - The Mainichi

[...] South Korean President Moon Jae In expressing his appreciation to the 85-year-old for helping develop ties between the two countries. [...]

In a letter sent to the retiring 85-year-old emperor, Moon says the emperor emphasized the need to ensure peace during his three-decade reign and expresses hope that he will work toward developing South Korea-Japan ties even after his abdication, a South Korean Foreign Ministry spokesman said Tuesday.

Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, in a letter dated the same day, congratulated the emperor for his "wise reign" and extended his best wishes.

[...]

The Singaporean leader said he warmly recalls interacting with the emperor and Empress Michiko during their visit to the city state in 2006 and his visits to Tokyo in 2007 and 2016.

[...]

Also Tuesday, the Philippines issued a statement thanking the emperor for his service and wishing him good health. "The Department of Foreign Affairs extends the Philippines' deepest gratitude to His Majesty for his invaluable role in advocating peace during his 30-year reign and fostering goodwill and friendship between the Philippines and Japan," the statement said. [...]

China appreciates outgoing Japanese emperor's achievements - The Mainichi

[...] "Emperor Akihito visited China in 1992 and met with Chinese party and state leaders on many occasions. He has made positive contributions to China-Japan relations," Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told reporters on Monday, according to the ministry's website.

"The China-Japan relations have come back to the right track and taken on the positive momentum of development," Geng said, while calling on Tokyo to make efforts to "properly handle sensitive issues."

[...]

Japanese troops invaded China in the 1930s in the name of Emperor Akihito's father, Emperor Hirohito, known posthumously as Emperor Showa. As a result, bitter memories of the period run deep in China.

[...]

For more than five years until late 2017, Sino-Japanese ties were said to have been at their worst level in decades over a territorial row in the East China Sea.

[...]

Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to attend a Group of 20 summit scheduled to be held in Osaka in late June. [...]

Beijing has also decided to appoint Vice Foreign Minister Kong Xuanyou, considered an expert on Japan, as its next ambassador to the country. Kong is likely to visit Japan as early as May after Crown Prince Naruhito's ascension to the throne on Wednesday.

 

[An Ard Ri]

I just love this video of the Emperor Emeritus offering his hand to Emperor Emerita;

https://twitter.com/x/status/1123147506437595136

Yes and so touching as he helped the Empress down.

 

[Jacknch]

An interesting article from the BBC a few days ago about the Emperor Emeritus:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-48093668

 

[Prisma]

The road to the first abdication in 200 years - NHK NEWSLINE - News - NHK WORLD

The decision
Emperor Emeritus Akihito always believed that "the Emperor must be fully capable of carrying out his duties as the symbol of the State stipulated by the constitution while he is on the throne." Once it became difficult for him to fulfill his duties, he believed it was his duty to step down.

[...]

Inner struggle
While the Emperor Emeritus wanted to publicly announce his wish as soon as possible, there were some people close to him who wanted him to change his mind. [...]

Empress Emerita Michiko had a difficult time understanding her husband's wish at first, but later became supportive.

In the year before the video message, the agency quietly approached the Prime Minister's office and began making preparations. One of the original ideas was for the Emperor Emeritus to announce his thoughts on his birthday in December, but that was shelved. [...]

Because the Imperial system is part of the constitution, it is difficult for an Emperor to express opinions on it.

[...]

NHK first reported on the Emperor Emeritus' wish to abdicate when his public address was still being polished. Sources tell me that as reports began to circulate, people expressed their support, and the draft was changed to more definitively reflect his thoughts. In that sense, the understanding and sympathy of the Japanese people emboldened the Emperor to clearly state his thoughts.

When did thoughts of abdication begin?
Taichiro Mitani, former advisor to the Imperial family, says he first learned about the Emperor Emeritus' wish to abdicate back in July 2010 at a meeting at the Imperial Palace. The Emperor Emeritus had already revealed his wish to the Grand Steward of the Imperial Household Agency, as well as Empress Emerita Michiko and their sons, current Emperor Naruhito and Crown Prince Akishino.

[...]

There were two formative experiences behind his decision. One was seeing his father, Emperor Showa, battle illness, almost to the point of unconsciousness in the months prior to his death, while still on the throne. The second was watching his mother, Empress Kojun, weaken in her later years.

Choosing the appropriate time to abdicate
Though his wish was kept private, the Emperor Emeritus seems to have wanted to abdicate in the spring of this year, at around the turn of the fiscal year. When he first told his aides he wanted to step down, he is said to have suggested he was willing to remain on the throne until he was 80. As discussions continued, he is said to have vowed to "keep trying hard until the 30th year of Heisei."

[...] This was in part due to ceremonies planned to mark the 30th anniversary of the death of Emperor Showa in January. The Emperor Emeritus appears to have wanted to carry out these ceremonies himself.

Meanwhile, Empress Emerita Michiko appears to have raised the possibility of her husband abdicating a year earlier, at the turn of the fiscal 2018.

[...]

 

[Prisma]

Emperor Emeritus Akihito and Empress Emerita Michiko will report his abdication to the mausoleum of Emperor Taisho at Hachiōji, Tokyo on June 6.

They will travel to Kyoto Prefecture June 11-13 to report the abdication to the mausoleums of Emperor Komei and Emperor Meiji on the 12th.

The series of rituals for the abdication will be complete following these reports.

Sources: Sankei, Jiji