Off the wire
• Xinhua world news summary at 1530 GMT, July 13  • Iran, Russia sign MoU for energy cooperation: official  • Jiaolong submersible returns with findings from W Pacific  • China's women Olympic paddlers fare well in team warmup  • More divorced, fewer married in Singapore in 2015  • Kenya urges Africa to tap own resources to fund development agenda  • Shaolin Monks stun Singapore audiences with authentic Chinese Kung Fu  • Spanish Socialists refuse to support Rajoy gov't  • Japan gov't cuts 2016 economic growth outlook  • Interview: South China Sea arbitration award solves nothing but causes trouble: senior advisor  
You are here: 　 Home

2nd LD: Japanese emperor expresses wish to abdicate: local media

Xinhua, July 13, 2016 Adjust font size:

Japanese Emperor Akihito has expressed the intention to end his reign in coming years, local media reported, quoting government sources.

The 82-year-old emperor, who has reigned for over 27 years since 1989, has expressed his hope to abdicate to the Imperial Household Agency, said public broadcaster NHK.

His 56-year-old son, Crown Prince Naruhito, is expected to succeed to the throne, said NHK.

But Kyodo News denied the news, quoting Shinichiro Yamamoto, a senior official from the Imperial Household Agency. "I know there are media reports about this, but it is definitely not true," Shinichiro Yamamoto was quoted by Kyodo News as saying.

Emperor Akihito has no health issues requiring immediate abdication, said Kyodo News, quoting another source who said the emperor has been expressing his intention to abdicate to people around him for about a year.

Meanwhile, according to local media, if the emperor is to abdicate, the Imperial House Law might need revision, as the law, enacted in 1947 to rule for imperial affairs, does not include any provision for a reigning emperor to abdicate.

The process of revising the law, involving deliberations by an expert panel to the government, is expected to require a few years, said Kyodo News. Endit