Emperor Akihito wanted to express his thoughts about fulfilling his role at the news conference last December marking his 82nd birthday, Imperial Household Agency sources said Tuesday.

Although the Emperor conveyed his wish to do so to senior agency officials, it didn't come to fruition as the agency could not make necessary preparations in time, the sources said.

As the Emperor's feelings have since remained unchanged, the agency explored avenues for granting his wish, which culminated in Monday's rare video address to the public in which he indicated his readiness to abdicate in the future, they said.