In his video message that was televised nationwide Aug. 8, Emperor Akihito posed a much more far-reaching question than had been anticipated, which was tantamount to a political statement requiring deep thinking for full comprehension.

The soft-sounding title "message" may have given the impression of what the Emperor said as the story of a highly respected, aging head of a long-established company timidly revealing his desire to retire. More than 80 percent of people in opinion surveys are said to have expressed sympathy for the Emperor. They probably thought that it was only natural for him to say what he said and wanted the government to take prompt action to respond to his wishes. That's because they took the Emperor's problem as an issue that could confront every family in this rapidly aging society — as if they had found a pitfall in the social security system.

But a question arises as to why the issue raised by the Emperor could be addressed only by allowing him to abdicate — and not by reducing his official duties or appointing a regent. By analyzing the way the Emperor touched on political processes regarding his status, it would be reasonable to assume that the most fundamental subject he had in mind was: "What does the government intend to do to sustain the present system of the emperor as the symbol of the state?"