Emperor commemorates 30th anniversary of his father's death

In June 2017, the Diet enacted a one-off law to allow the emperor to step down after he signaled his wish to retire in a rare video message in August 2016, citing concern that his advanced age and weakening health that could prevent him from fulfilling his duties.

The Abe government wasted literally billions in taxpayers yen on creating a "law" that was not necessary in the first place! There is NOWHERE in the then current law that prohibited the Emperor from abdicating.

The absence of something does not require the creation of something else!

Well said, I agree, but I would have added the word necessarily between the words not and require

With all due respect to the present emperor, I feel no empathy or sympathy for the hardship emperor showa endured in the war, and resulting countless deaths, that he is responsible for.

I have lived in Hachioji for more than a dozen years, and I have never once had the slightest desire to visit emperor Showa's tomb.

I'd be embarrassed with a mad dad like that, personally. No offense to the current Emperor.

I'd be embarrassed with a mad dad like that, personally. No offense to the current Emperor.

Dont know what history books you have been reading. Hirohito was far from "mad"

Hirohito was far from "mad"

Would evil be a better word???

This explains why the morons in the black trucks were out in full force on Sunday, screaming messages to "kokumin nomi!" and being completely racist and idiotic as usual.

"The emperor, who will retire after a more than 30-year reign, apparently empathized fully with the hardship his father went through, including the period of war during his more than 60 years on the throne," the agency official said. "We assume his desire (to host the 30-year anniversary ceremony) came from the responsibility of being the successor to the throne."

What an absolutely tone-deaf statement. Hardhip his father went through????

Seriously???

Those old imperialistic oyajis in the IHA need to be retired. THEY wrote this drivel.

BTW, I remember full well the funeral "festivities for Emperor Hirohito. Does anyone remember the huge mass of yakuza paying their respect at the Imperial Palace?!

What country allows organized crime leaders to do that?!!

Would evil be a better word???

Complicit for one. Naive too. When one lives a cloistered life and is revered as a god, but is for the most part kept in the dark about reality, does not make him "mad".

Hirohito was a pawn, used by Tojo, who I might suggest was the "mad" one here.

I can empathize with the current Emperor, he wants to distance himself as much as possible from the atrocities that were done in his father's name, but still wants to show respect for his position as Emperor of Japan.

Quite a conundrum.

He is a far better man than his father ever was.

I've often wondered why Japans Head of State is referred to as Emperor. Japan is not, and does not have an Empire.

Ex_Res: "I've often wondered why Japans Head of State is referred to as Emperor. Japan is not, and does not have an Empire."

Good point! Also has no power.

I've often wondered why Japans Head of State is referred to as Emperor. Japan is not, and does not have an Empire.

Because it's tradition and also keep in mind that in Japanese he is not called the Emperor.

He was his father, 

What do you mean by "He was his father"