Retiring All Official Events

In the midst of discussion over abdication of Japanese Emperor, Emperor Akihito is willing to retire from official events including reception for the guest from foreign country. Prince Naruhito and his brother Fumihito have reportedly approved that idea of Akihito. Akihito is going to move to Togu Palace, where Naruhito currently lives, after retiring official events.

There has been an argument over Emperor’s abdication that dualism over the status as symbolic Emperor may cause confusion between current Emperor and retired one. If retired Emperor keep on attending official events after his abdication, he may be recognized as the representative of Imperial House, leaving incumbent Emperor behind. Realizing that possibility and to settle the argument, Akihito must have proposed the retirement from all the official events after abdication.

Emperor appears various official events. As a tradition of the nation with imperial system, Emperor welcomes state guest from foreign country at his Palace or Guest House, including official dinner. He also makes visit to foreign countries. Emperor and Empress host garden party in every spring and fall, inviting leaders in politics, economy, culture or other social activities.

He also visits everywhere in Japan to encourage the people who are working in maintenance of forests or sea resources. His visit the shelters of evacuees in suffered area from East Japan Great Earthquake and severe accident in First Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant in 2011 encouraged not only the sufferers, but every people living in Japan. After Imperial Japan experienced miserable defeat in World War II, the Emperor participates in the memorial ceremony for war victims in every August 15^th.

Constitution of Japan does not define those activities as “acts in matters of state” or activities of the state symbol. Emperors has been seeking ideal manner as the state symbol through those events in post-war Japan. Akihito seems to have thought that retired Emperor should be inconspicuous not to erode dignity of the Emperor on the throne.

Togu Palace is the place where Akihito lived for thirty-three years after the marriage with current Empress Michiko. While Togu has been publicly called Akasaka Palace, it will be called Sendo Palace as the house for previous retired Emperor has been called. New Emperor will leave Togu and move to Emperor’s Palace. Fumihito will stay in the official residence in Motoakasaka with treatment paralleled with Prince. In the paternal system of Imperial House of Japan, Fumihito’s son, Hisahito, is likely to succeed the throne in the future. That makes the status of next generation complicated.