Emperor Akihito of Japan intending to abdicate, sources report

[-:Undertaker:-]

http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20160713_33/

Emperor Akihito of Japan intending to abdicate, sources report

Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko

NHK has learned that Emperor Akihito has been telling close aides that he wants to abdicate within the next few years and pass the throne to the Crown Prince. The Emperor is 82 years old. Sources say that he wants to step down before he is too frail to carry out his duties fully.

And they say he has already informed his family members.

Sources say the Imperial Household agency is planning an occasion for the Emperor to address the public.

Japan's emperor Akihito says he will abdicate in favour of his son, Crown Prince Naruhito. Reason, timing not known yet, but Akihito is 82.

— CBC News Alerts (@CBCAlerts) July 13, 2016

Japanese emperor says he will abdicate in coming years - Akihito, 82, has had health problems https://t.co/g7iVFGZwhK

— BBC Breaking News (@BBCBreaking) July 13, 2016

Emperor Akihito standing before the Japanese Diet (Parliament) reading a speech

Key Facts on Japan's Emperor Akihito

- Last monarch with title of Emperor in the world and the last still-reigning Imperial Dynasty.
- Came to the Chrysanthemum throne in 1989 after the death of Emperor Hirohito who reigned 1926 to 1989.
- It is unusual for Japanese Emperors to abdicate the throne, the last Emperor to abdicate being Emperor Kokaku in 1817.

Interesting if true and unexpected.

The next Emperor will be Crown Prince Naruhito (aged 56).

I don't like the recent trend of monarchs abdicating and I hope the Queen never does. Should reign until death.

Thoughts?

[scottish]

Do what he wants, similarly wouldn't care what happens to the queen.

[Lucy]

http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20160713_33/

Emperor Akihito of Japan intending to abdicate, sources report

Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko

Japan's emperor Akihito says he will abdicate in favour of his son, Crown Prince Naruhito. Reason, timing not known yet, but Akihito is 82.

— CBC News Alerts (@CBCAlerts) July 13, 2016

Japanese emperor says he will abdicate in coming years - Akihito, 82, has had health problems https://t.co/g7iVFGZwhK

— BBC Breaking News (@BBCBreaking) July 13, 2016

Emperor Akihito standing before the Japanese Diet (Parliament) reading a speech

Interesting if true and unexpected.

The next Emperor will be Crown Prince Naruhito (aged 56).

I don't like the recent trend of monarchs abdicating and I hope the Queen never does. Should reign until death.

Thoughts?

If he is abdicating because he is no longer able to perform his duties then it is fair enough. And I agree on the Queen, if she can outlive Charles that would be fantastic too.

[-:Undertaker:-]

@scottish; why

@Flairr; He ought to just declare a Regency then. Hopefully the Queen is of the same mind as I am, that monarchs even if completely incapacitated, ought to continue to the end. That's why regencies are permitted in such times as under King George III. And I like Prince Charles, I just don't believe in abdications.

[scottish]

@scottish; why

@Flairr; He ought to just declare a Regency then. Hopefully the Queen is of the same mind as I am, that monarchs even if completely incapacitated, ought to continue to the end. That's why regencies are permitted in such times as under King George III. And I like Prince Charles, I just don't believe in abdications.

Why what?

[-:Undertaker:-]

Why what?

you seem to like making it very clear you don't care about the Queen. why?

[scottish]

You made a thread with a reference to the queen and asked thoughts.

I couldn't care if the queen abdicated tomorrow, or if she died and let the successor take over, or if we got rid of the monarch. Ultimately makes no difference.

I doubt much people care for the royalty other than when there's a baby.

[-:Undertaker:-]

You made a thread with a reference to the queen and asked thoughts.

I couldn't care if the queen abdicated tomorrow, or if she died and let the successor take over, or if we got rid of the monarch. Ultimately makes no difference.

I doubt much people care for the royalty other than when there's a baby.

but it does make a difference really. constitutionally and politically it does matter whether you have a monarch or a Presidency. i quite like the idea that there's somebody above the politicians - left and right - who carries out a neutral constitutional duty and who is universally respected&loved.

don't you think it's important and valuable in a country that when people despair of politicians, we at least have one thing - the Crown - which unites the vast majority of it? it's no mistake that many of the most stable countries in the world are constitutional monarchies and not republics

[scottish]

How many times has the Queen actually had an impact on political decisions though?

People don't like politicians because they lie to get elected. I wouldn't say that the royalty unites the vast majority of it. Has there ever been polls done on royalty (i.e. if they care if it was wiped out)? The only time I've seen anyone care about royalty personally was the birth of the kid.

[-:Undertaker:-]

How many times has the Queen actually had an impact on political decisions though?

We never find out what extent or how a monarch influenced affairs until well after their reigns as most of the material is kept secret for over 50 to a 100 years. The most modern series of monarchs have influenced before quite extensively, including the Queen with the examples we actually know of so far. That's their constitutional right to warn and advise the government hence the weekly meetings the PM has with the Queen and the briefings of state she receives.

Besides, the duty of the monarch isn't actually to have a day-to-day impact it is to be above the daily grind and yearly grind of politics unless absolutely needed. That's the beauty of the system, contrast that with a Presidential system where you'd have a direct (constitutional crisis) clash between the Presidency/Parliament.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward...utional_crisis
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George...ional_politics
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George...cond_World_War
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1975_A...utional_crisis

People don't like politicians because they lie to get elected. I wouldn't say that the royalty unites the vast majority of it. Has there ever been polls done on royalty (i.e. if they care if it was wiped out)? The only time I've seen anyone care about royalty personally was the birth of the kid.

aye, quite a few.

https://yougov.co.uk/news/2015/09/08...chy-here-stay/

Generally speaking support for the Queen in approval ratings is 80% to 90%+ and support for the institution itself around 75%+.

Monarchs have approval ratings most politicians would give their right leg for. Left or right, we're all safe in the knowledge there's somebody above it all there for us. It's likely if you take Weimar Germany for example that had Hindenburg been a monarch with a successor, Hitler would've been unable to assume complete control.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_von_Hindenburg#Death