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Gov't gears up preparations for imperial succession rites next year

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Cool - a committee to set up a committee. (Remember the joke re: how the spelling of "committee" is redundant?)

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The Japanese government said Tuesday it will set up a secretariat next month to prepare for a series of imperial succession rites related to the emperor' abdication and his son's enthronement in 2019.

ENOUGH ALREADY! Let the man and his wife go in peace!

2 ( +5 / -3 )

He and is wife are nice people. They don’t have muitiple corrution charges,

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Having always felt the Fascination of the Empire, documented in historical materials (literature, cinema, tv spots), I am really impressed by this event. I'm trying to imagine how the Nation will greet the abdicant emperor and welcome the heir apparent Prince Naruhito and in which measure the occourence is felt by the people. I would like to wish to Mr. Akihito a great time and a peaceful retirement from the politic scenes.

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How's the Emperor doing since he took a turn? Has anyone seen him out? I hope he is feeling better.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Can’t wait.

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I wonder if Abe has ever stopped to consider that just maybe the reason the Emperor is abdicating in the first place is because of him and his policies? It's the Emperor's way of giving Abe a slap upside the head?

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The Japanese government said Tuesday it will set up a secretariat next month

What a brilliant idea. Do the members of the ‘secretariat’ knock off early on Premium Friday and wear ridiculous shirts during cool biz?

4 ( +4 / -0 )

What a brilliant idea. Do the members of the ‘secretariat’ knock off early on Premium Friday and wear ridiculous shirts during cool biz?

They are about to set up a series of committees to discuss those very issues.

Should be ready with a preliminary report in about... er ...15 years or so.

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Since the last abdication was 200 years ago, no living person has seen it. I am fascinated and looking forward observing a rare event of ceremonial rites.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Exciting News! The Ceremonies will be amazing, once the public and the world sees them live. The entire population of Japan will be holding their breath as they listen to The Emperors Final words in Taiirei Seiden no Gi. You will hear a pin drop anywhere in Japan when this hapens, all people will remain silent with heads bowed, no business will be done, every shop closed. My guess is JR will not run any trains in this time either.

After the ceremonies, the festivals and week-long partying in every village, town and city in Japan will be once-in-lifetime event! I just cannot wait!

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This ceremonial event will forever be written in all history books. Tennōheika Banzai !

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I can understand the frustration with setting up committee after committee to handle things, but why is there so much animosity about the actual Japanese culture surrounding the Emperor? He's the Emperor, he can't just quit. There's thousands of years of tradition to uphold and I think it's great that culture like this still exists in a world full of so much nastiness. It seems like a lot of you would be happier if it was just like the United States with no culture and just strictly politics. Gross.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Since the last abdication was 200 years ago, no living person has seen it. I am fascinated and looking forward observing a rare event of ceremonial rites.

The "important" rites and rituals, with the abdication and succession are all done in secret and all the public will see is the two of them walking between two different locations within the Imperial palace grounds.

Same thing as when the succession ceremony was performed last time.

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You will hear a pin drop anywhere in Japan when this hapens, all people will remain silent with heads bowed, no business will be done, every shop closed.

You know what year it is right? 2018, you are living in the dark ages of Japan if you think customer service related businesses are going to up and close for this event. Planes still have to fly, trains will run, and folks will be out enjoying their longer than usual "Golden Week" holiday.

My guess is JR will not run any trains in this time either.

I'll take this bet. You are wrong, JR and every other train in the country will run, there's money to be made.

They never stopped for the succession of Akihito to the throne, so pray tell why they would now. And in your "world" Hirohito was a god, and if they didnt stop for a "god" why stop now?

After the ceremonies, the festivals and week-long partying in every village, town and city in Japan will be once-in-lifetime event! I just cannot wait!

No kidding? They are going to be celebrating having a long vacation, so this is a no brainer!

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 He's the Emperor, he can't just quit. There's thousands of years of tradition to uphold

Actually, prior to the Meiji Restoration, abdication was more frequent than death for the succession of the Imperial throne. Most Emperors would sit on the throne for about 10-15 years, then pass it along to either a brother/sister (despite the proclamations of many, Japan has had Empresses) or a child, and then go live in a relatively pampered retirement.

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@David Varnes

I didn't mean he can't quit period, I meant he can't just say 'I quit, I'm out of here', which is what a lot of readers here seem to want him to do every time this subject comes up. There's ceremonies and procedures going back centuries and in my opinion it would be very disappointing if these were abandoned.

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I didn't mean he can't quit period, I meant he can't just say 'I quit, I'm out of here', which is what a lot of readers here seem to want him to do every time this subject comes up. There's ceremonies and procedures going back centuries and in my opinion it would be very disappointing if these were abandoned.

You really don't get it, there is no law that says he can't quit, and it would be ludicrous to suggest otherwise. People like me however, do not think that it needs to take over two years to have this actually happen.

There is a ton of money being wasted on committees and meetings and hand-wringing.

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You really don't get it

No, I get it. I just don't agree with you that Japan should abandon tradition just for the sake of abandoning it. I'd say the Emperor agrees since he hasn't walked off into the sunset.

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