Gov't to hold meeting Dec 1 to discuss emperor's abdication date

Better late than never...

I still don't see any reason not to do it sooner though.

First it was 2018. Now 2019. Poor man cannot even leave even he is an Emperor.

And people here don't care, all they were talking about on TV is if he would quit during golden week we would have a longer holiday or something like that.

For crying out loud, it takes THAT long? Let the poor bloke retire already!

As for the idea of setting the abdication date in December 2018, Imperial Household Agency officials have shown reluctance toward the idea as ceremonies to mark the imperial succession would coincide with important year-end and New Year imperial events.

The poor guy is trapped. Let him go. The new emperor can do those duties.

An era is passing.

Yes, last time it was Dec 2018. Now it's April 2019. What will it be next month? By the time he finally does abdicate, he won't have many days left to enjoy his retirement. Sure, Queen Elizabeth is in her nineties and still going on (albeit shifting some responsibilities to the younger generation), but she and her husband don't look nearly as frail, considering their ages.

Emperor never had to worry about finding a job or money. His live has been easy comparing with many. It's just reasonable that he needs to pay the price in the end. There should not be any abdication until death.

Maybe he should just decide on his own, or would the IHA frown on that?

Forget that whole end in March start anew in April stuff. Just do it next Sunday!

After ww2 LDP party is very much concerned the Emperor position. The USA stationed troops governed by Gen. McArthur (for 5 years) accepted the position of the emperor. And after most of those 65 years was governed by LDP party. LDP party subsequently had to find a way of this emperor's abdication notifying the citizens resolutions long time ago, perhaps when Gen. McArthur left and LDP party started governing Japan...

And people here don't care, all they were talking about on TV is if he would quit during golden week we would have a longer holiday or something like that.

It’s amazing how insensitive Japanese can be sometimes, for a country that likes to be seen as delicate and receptive.

Why not now? Let the poor man retire in peace.

Seriously do it this weekend. It'll be done and the guy can retire in peace. This is really a human right

Let him twice already.

Just watched on TV why there were plainclothes & uniformed cops lining the street between Kichijoji station and Inokashira-Zoo every 50 metres, the Emperor and Empress visited. Explains also the TV-Crew.

Please let him retire in peace. He has done his duty

I suspect there is a feeling in some circles that if they keep putting the date back for the handover then he will pass on first, therefore ensuring a steady continuation and removing the problem of abdication!

The Emperor took the dramatic step of telling the nation that he felt he was becoming too old to properly carry out his official duties on behalf of the people of Japan and wished therefore to step aside in favour of his successor. That was more than a year ago, in 2016.

The Government of Japan and Imperial Household Agency need time of course to absorb his message and act upon it.

A year would seem to be adequate to formulate legal procedures and devise a dignified ceremony to address his request . Two years to get it in place seems excessive. Three years to do so seems to put bureaucratic inertia completely before the wishes of the Emperor of Japan.

I cannot help but feel sorry for His Imperial Highness.

The Japanese can't keep to a schedule on anything beyond that pertaining to trains. No wonder the country is so endlessly and aimlessly adrift.

I don't think he knows what is freedom.

2019! How petty. At this point he might as well "call in sick" for a month or six. Get junior to pick it up more

I always thought Emperors were the "head" of the country, surely he should be able to choose for himself when to retire ?