Japan enacts law to allow 1st abdication of emperor in 200 years

Great! Retire In Peace!

Good to hear, he deserves a peaceful retirment

Why not let him retire immediately? It seems a punitive punishment to linger when he's wanted to leave for a few years already. Time served.

Japanese media have said the government is eying the end of 2018 as a likely timeline for Akihito's abdication.

Its none of their damn business. He should be allowed to retire whenever he wants to.

There have been abdications in Japan's long imperial history, but the last one was more than 200 years ago, so politicians had to craft new legislation to make it possible

Fine, but it shouldn't have taken so long. This is not an unprecedented move.

But anyway, good. I hope he still has time to enjoy life with his wife- go on trips around Japan as a commoner and just take part in doing things we all take for granted.

The popular 83-year-old monarch shocked the country last summer when he signalled his desire to take a back seat after nearly three decades on the Chrysanthemum Throne, citing his age and health problems.

"Shocked" perhaps the right wingers, Shinto zealots, most people were supportive of this he is 83 and battled cancer, been forced to suppress any expression of himself, unable to give his family any protection from the IHA. But still did his constitutional duty to a tee.

The future release from duties is not about calendar confusion, the problem will resolve itself is more the thinking. Pathetic Mr Abe just flat out Pathetic.

sf2k Today 12:43 pm JST

Why not let him retire immediately?

Aly Rustom Today 12:58 pm JST

He should be allowed to retire whenever he wants to.

Here is his words. http://www.kunaicho.go.jp/page/okotoba/detailEn/12

A major milestone year marking the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II has passed, and in two years we will be welcoming the 30th year of Heisei.

As I am now more than 80 years old and there are times when I feel various constraints such as in my physical fitness, in the last few years I have started to reflect on my years as the Emperor, and contemplate on my role and my duties as the Emperor in the days to come.

"30th year of Heisei" or 30th year of his reign is 2018. Why do not we welcome it as the emperor says.

The popular 83-year-old monarch shocked the country last summer when he signalled his desire to take a back seat after nearly three decades on the Chrysanthemum Throne, citing his age and health problems.

Stop with the over exaggeration and blatant BS, he only "shocked" the right-wing nuts, and probably ticked off Abe for putting the ball of deciding succession squarely in his lap.

Abe punted big time, and should be ashamed for this half-assed measure.

CH3CHO

Making everything round figures and lined up perfectly isn't how life goes. The choice was his to make and the politicians needed to take that choice away from him too to feel better about themselves.

With any luck he can take his vacation days at twice the rate and take six months off. If he had any. Let junior take it on

The law should have not made this a one time thing (typical), but rather a choice when an emperor reaches 80 and has a replacement ready. That would be stability not left to the random lifecycle of a human being. That would be with respect.

CH3CHO

I read the Emperor's statement and I see someone who wanted to leave the job and enjoy his retirement. The years mentioned were not meant to be the deadlines for change. Change could have happened last year just fine. As if he had died but hadn't. If government and companies want stability and not change then mandate a retirement age for the Emperor is a super simple thing to do. He wanted out, and finally gets his wish, no thanks to Abe.