Abdication Day Decided

Government of Japan held Imperial Household Council for the first time these 25 years and decided to set the date of abdication of Emperor Akihito on April 30^th of 2019. Crown Prince Naruhito will succeed the throne the next day, May 1^st. The name of new era of new Emperor is going to be determined in the middle of next year. The chairman of the Council, Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, reported the conclusion to Akihito as soon as the meeting was finished.

Constitution of Japan or Imperial Household Law does not have any provision about abdication. Abe administration decided to make the abdication possible only for Akihito by legislating special law, which passed the Diet with approval of all parties except Liberal Party that boycotted the voting. The Council lasted for about an hour in the Friday morning.

The law requires the government to hear opinions of Imperial Household Council to decide the date of abdication. In the Council, Abe proposed the date of April 30^th 2019 after each member, including brother of Akihito, Hitachinomiya, Speakers of both Houses or Chief Justice of Supreme Court, told their opinion. The decision was made along Abe’s proposal without voting. Abdication date will officially be decided in the Cabinet on December 8^th. “I will do my best to make related governmental ordinances as early as possible and proceed to smooth abdication and succession with best wishes of Japanese people,” told Abe to the reporters.

Abe administration has discussed the abdication on December 31^st of 2018 and March 31^st of 2019. The year-end abdication was dismissed by Imperial Household Agency concerning official ceremonies of Imperial Family in the year-end and new-year days and March abdication was regarded as not preferable in terms of political schedule of local elections in April. Chief Cabinet Secretary, Yoshihide Suga, explained that the administration chose the best day for not affecting ordinary life of the people.

After Naruhito succeeds the throne, Akihito will remain as Retired Emperor. There were some examples in ancient Japan that caused confusion in the government brought by dualism of Imperial power. Although Akihito hopes to hand over all of his power as the symbol of the state, it is still necessary for the government to determine the status of Emperor and Retired Emperor.

Calendar makers are worried about delay of decision of the name of new era, because they need to start designing 2019 calendar early next year. Golden week of 2019 will be ten consecutive holidays, according to the rule of continuation between national holidays. April 30^th and May 2^nd will be the holidays in the middle between Succession Day and Showa Day, birthday of Emperor Hirohito, or Constitution Day. The government hopes the people to fully cerebrate new era.