- Source:
- NHK
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In a ten minute recorded video message, Emperor Akihito of Japan has addressed the public regarding the status of the Emperor as a symbol of the state, as well as his age and health.
While the Emperor expressed concern over the difficulties to continue out his duties at the age of 82, he refrained from explicitly expressing a wish to abdicate. The Japanese Constitution stipulates that the Emperor shall have no powers related to government, and directly expressing a wish to abdicate would be interpreted as political power.
However he made it clear that a gradual decline in physical health will make it difficult for him to continue his duties, while noting a need for the Emperor to continue as a symbol of the state.
Here is a full translation of the speech, courtesy of NHK:
For the Emperor to actually abdicate, new measures and provisions accommodating that would have to be put in place.