Shinzo Abe administration is wrapping up
the discussion over special legislation for abdication of Emperor Akihito.
According to the reports on the draft of special law, abdication will be
approved only based on understanding and compassion of the people. Retired
Emperor will be titled Joko with honorific title of Heika, meaning your
majesty. New Emperor Naruhito, the first son of Akihito, is going to take
throne at the end of 2018.
The bill is supposed to be submitted to the
Diet after Golden Week in early May, hoping to be passed before the end of
current ordinary session. Understanding and compassion of the people for the
sentiment of Akihito will be included in Article 1 of the law. The article
describes the condition of Akihito who has been suffering from difficulty in official
works along with his aging, in spite of his willingness to be the national
symbol in visiting devastated region of East Japan Great Earthquake.
The government supposes that the abdication
will not violate the Constitution of Japan, which prohibits the Emperor being
involved in politics, by rooting it in people’s understanding and compassion.
While maintaining the principle of lifetime throne that is stipulated in
Imperial House Law, the abdication law will be the first example of abdication
not based on the will of Emperor but the people. But, there is no detailed
explanation how the abdication can be endorsed by whole consensus of the
people.
Article 2 will rule immediate succeeding of
throne from Emperor to Crown Prince. Article 3 will determine the name of
retired Emperor and Empress, which will be Joko and Jokogo. The grand funeral
as honorific as that of incumbent Emperor will be held for the death of Joko
and he will be buried in Imperial Tomb. However, Joko will not be the successor
of Emperor, Regent or a member of Imperial House Conference.
Crown Prince Naruhito does not have a son.
That is because his younger brother Fumihito will be listed on the top of
successor of Emperor Naruhito. The special law will regard Fumihito as Crown
Prince and increase budget for the family of Fumihito to treat them as in
higher status. The law will be activated in December 2018, just before the
taking throne of new Emperor.
After taking throne of Naruhito in December
2018, new Imperial year will start on January 1st, 2019. To avoid
confusion between Western calendar and Imperial year, new Imperial year will
start on new year’s day. So, Heisei Era will continue for a short period of
time after retirement of Akihito. As shown, the schedule of succeeding throne
will be highly unusual in the long history of Japanese Emperor.
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