The Experts’ Meeting on Abdication of the
Emperor made the second hearing from six experts, including scholars,
journalists and a bureaucrat. While two of them approved abdication of Emperor
Akihito, the rest of four opposed it. The conservative notion on superiority of
status of the Emperor did not approve erosion of Imperial power. Akihito’s
willingness for unusual retirement created a stir in long-lived Imperial system
of Japan.
Katsumi Iwai, who reported demise of Showa
Emperor Hirohito, realized that life-time throne was cruel for Emperor as a
human. “I understood the words of the Emperor as a presentation for living retirement
when he would face a limit caused by aging,” told Iwai, opposing having
Regency, special legislation for abdication or reducing official events.
Nobuo Ishihara, former Deputy Chief Cabinet
Secretary in Noboru Takeshita Cabinet and following six ones, upheld special
law for abdication applied to Akihito. He proposed abdication in heavy mental
or physical illness or serious accident and prescribing actual age for
abdication.
Others firmly opposed abdication. Hidehiko
Kasahara, Professor at Keio University, opposed any changes in current system.
“Co-existence of former Emperor and incumbent Emperor brings degradation of
integrative power of Emperor and ‘symbol of national integration’ will be a
nominal concept,” said Kasahara.
Shoichi Watanabe, Professor Emeritus at
Sophia University, proposed to deal with the issue through existing system of
Regency. “It was a merciful description that the Emperor rejected Regency,
because he hoped to work in the sight of the people. But, it would be enough
for him to pray for the state and the people. Emperor’s job is prayer,” argued
Watanabe. Yoshiko Sakurai, a conservative journalist, also approved Regency.
Akira Imatani, Professor at Teikyo
University, realized abdication as fundamentally difficult. “One problem is how
the people see retired Emperor. It is possible that the retired Emperor has
superior power than actual Emperor. We need to be careful on abdication,” told
Imatani. He proposed temporary deputy for the matters of the state for aged
Emperor.
The experts’ meeting is going to have another
hearing later this month, wrapping up the talking points next month and making proposal
on this issue next spring. It looks difficult to find one single answer on the
abdication in the condition that opinions of experts are clearly separated. If
the experts leave the problem for politicians, failing in finding a conclusion,
political use of Imperial system can unexpectedly be possible.
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