Emperor Akihito, in a rare televised video message to the public on Monday, indicated his desire to abdicate — which is not possible under the current Imperial House Law — citing a growing concern that he could become unable to perform official duties due to his advanced age and declining health. Accommodating the Emperor's wish would require revising the 1947 law, which stipulates that the emperor's position will be taken over upon his death in accordance with the dynastic line of succession as determined by the law, and the government is reportedly ready to discuss an amendment. But in doing so, the implications of an Imperial abdication to the emperor's position as a "symbol of the state" under the Constitution should be carefully considered. The issue should also give the public an opportunity to think again about the role of the Imperial system under the constitutional democracy.
The concern expressed by the 82-year-old Emperor, who had a heart bypass surgery in 2012 and has received hormone treatment to prevent a recurrence of prostate cancer following the removal of a tumor in 2003, are entirely understandable, even though he is not believed to have any pressing health problems requiring an immediate abdication. The Emperor, who is said to be of the opinion that his position under the Constitution and the official duties associated with it are inseparable, said the surgeries and the toll that age is taking on his health led him to think "what would be best for the country, for the people, and also for the Imperial Family members who will follow after me." That his wish to abdicate — since it was widely reported in the media last month — has been generally viewed favorably in media surveys may reflect this, including a Kyodo News poll last week that showed 85 percent of respondents saying an abdication should be made possible.
Such a favorable public response — based on which the government will likely explore its action — may overlook some of the contradictions between the very act of the Emperor's wish publicly disclosed, first through media reports quoting anonymous sources and then in the Emperor's own words, and his position under the postwar Constitution.