A day before his 57th birthday,
Crown Prince Naruhito had a press conference in his Palace on Tuesday. While it
was ordinary for him to receive questions from the press before his birthday
every year, the press conference was something special, because it was the
first opportunity since his father, Emperor Akihito, delivered his “words” last
August. Naruhito explained his idea on Imperial system of Japan, which regarded
Emperor as the symbol of the state.
Naruhito listened to the words of Akihito
in Nagoya train station after finishing official event in Aichi on August 8th
last year. Realizing his father having sincerely been exploring how the
symbolic Emperor should behave, Naruhito revealed that he embraced emotion on
the Emperor’s concern not being able to carry out his responsibility. “I take
the Emperor’s thought seriously and will fulfill my responsibility with
consideration of his sentiment,” told Naruhito.
Shinzo Abe administration and the parties
in the Diet are discussing legislation for abdication. The biggest question for
them is how symbolic Emperor should be. “It is important for the Emperor to
consider the way past Emperors took and the provision in Constitution of Japan
that the Emperor is the symbol of the state and of the unity of the people, to
secure peace of the people sharing joy and hardship with them, and to keep on
seeking ideal way for symbolic Emperor,” told Naruhito.
It was unusual for the Prince to refer to
old custom of past Emperors. To explain the importance to have opportunities
for approaching the people, Naruhito quoted the words of Emperor Gonara
(1497-1557), which was regretting not having taken care of the people in the
time of disaster or pandemic. “I would like to remind of those deeds by former
Emperors, think and pray for the people, and be with the people sharing delight
or sorrow as the Emperor has been doing,” said Naruhito.
Naruhito has been telling that the role of
Imperial House would change as time goes by. Decrease of male family of
Imperial House is current problem in the paternalistic system. Knowing the
seriousness of current situation, Naruhito insisted the importance of learning
from the past, succeeding traditions and seeking ideal way the Imperial House
to be. Quoting his participation to opening ceremony of Asian Winter Games in
Hokkaido earlier this month on behalf of Emperor Akihito, Naruhito expressed
his willingness to take active roles to succeed responsibilities of his father.
He thanked his parents to take good care of the family.
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