A government-commissioned panel on Monday started hearing opinions from experts on Japanese history and the Imperial Household system.

Its purpose is to study Emperor Akihito's possible abdication, and to do so within a tighter schedule than previous hearings that have considered issues related to the Imperial family.

Five intellectuals, mostly university professors, have been invited to a third meeting of the panel tasked with considering how the burden on the 82-year-old Emperor can be alleviated following his video message in August, in which he expressed his desire to abdicate.