New Abdication Day Considered

Shinzo Abe administration considers setting the day of abdication for current Emperor Akihito at the end of April 2019 and starting new era next day, May 1^st. The reason is highly political: because nation-wide local elections are scheduled in April. While it supposed to set the date at the end of March, Abe administration realized that the time would be in an enthusiasm not for having new Emperor, but election campaign. The administration, mainly supported by conservative powers, tries to promote the ceremony with dignity for Emperor system.

Discussion on the abdication day had been made with two options: at the end of 2018 and at the end of March 2019 when a fiscal year of 2018 will end. Emperor Akihito indicated that the 30^th year of Heisei era, or 2018, would be a sort of period in considering the timing of abdication. Change of era at the end of a year would be recognized as causing less confusion in Japanese society. However, Imperial Household Agency protested the scheduling, because yearend and new-year days would have a lot of ceremony in the Imperial House, including 30^th anniversary of fall of Emperor of Showa, Hirohito, on January 7^th.

So, abdication at the end of March became the likeliest plan. But, quadrennial nation-wide local elections are planned in two weekends in April 2019. Late March and early April is in the middle of election campaign in many cities and towns all over Japan. Abe administration thought that it would not be appropriate for the people cerebrating new era, being disturbed by loud cries of candidates from speakers set on the top of campaign cars. Abe insisted on “calm environment” for the abdication to show his respect for Emperor.

Those considerations do not ensure the correctness of abdication at the end of April. If the schedule of abdication is fixed with that date, the 31^st year of Heisei will be for four months and the rest of the year will be another era. A baby born in April 2019 will be categorized in Heisei ager and another in May 2019 will be in new ager. May 1^st is in the middle of Golden Week, when the people are in vacation or travel abroad. There is no guarantee that political struggle will be ceased in the time, anyway.

Abe administration decided to have Imperial Household Council on December 1^st, in which the members discuss the date of abdication. Abe is going to make Cabinet decision of abdication day on December 5^th. They need to determine the name of new era with advice from the experts on Imperial history. New name is expected to be decided before the end of next year. There is not much time for consideration.