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News Analysis: What's sensed in Japanese emperor's message?

Xinhua, August 9, 2016 Adjust font size:

The 82-year-old Japanese Emperor Akihito delivered a 10-minute message to the Japanese people Monday, indicating his wish to abdicate during his lifetime and his determination to defend Japan's existing postwar constitution.

"When I consider that my fitness level is gradually declining, I am worried that it may become difficult for me to carry out my duties as the symbol of the state with my whole being as I have done until now," the Japanese emperor said.

According to Japan's constitution, a Japanese emperor should not express publicly that he wants to abdicate as such a statement may be taken political, said local media. In Monday's message, Emperor Akihito only indicated an abdication, citing age, health and heavy work.

However, what is hidden in the message?

Analysts believe that the Japanese emperor has a clear sense of crisis, mainly rooted in the moves by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and the political right forces he leads toward amending Japan's postwar constitution.

In fact, speculation on Emperor Akihito's abdication has grown since local media reported his wish to hand over the throne to 56-year-old Crown Prince Naruhito.

Notably, the disclosure last month came three days after parliamentary election outcomes enabled a two-thirds majority in both houses needed for proposing constitutional amendments.

At least two major changes in the new draft constitution Abe's Liberal Democrats announced in April 2012 defy Emperor Akihito's long-time commitments.

Re-arming Japan challenges his consistent support for an in-depth reflection on the war, while upgrading the emperor to the head of state contradicts his devotion over the past 28 years to a role of the ceremonial symbol of the state.

Since constitutional changes should revise the status of the emperor, Emperor Akihito's message can be seen to defend the existing constitution, particularly in the word "symbol" used in the title of the published text.

Abe's firm opposition to a female emperor is believed to be another source of concern. The fact that the crown prince has yet no male heir has led to bursts of rumors about tension in royal family on top of grunts from Japan's conservatives.

Meeting Emperor Akihito's wish to abdicate during his lifetime needs to either modify the Imperial House Law or to introduce ad hoc legislation in order to legalize the abdication of a reigning emperor. Either way takes time.

As Emperor Akihito has hinted at a possible abdication within two years, many things may happen during the time to the political agenda Abe has set to amend Japan's constitution. Whatever Emperor Akihito wants, he has created a hurdle on Abe's way ahead.

Monday's message is the emperor's second such address following the first released after the 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan.

Emperor Akihito was enthroned in 1989 at the age of 55 upon the death of his father Emperor Hirohito. Endi