In reference to Emperor's Akihito's wish to vacate the throne, the Japanese government is set to discuss the considerations that go with the situation. Although this is something that Tokyo has not prepared for a long time, the predicament is a touchy matter that needs to be addressed considerably knowing that the circumstance will have future implications.
How this will be resolved means reviewing the constitution. There is a need to fully comprehend the emperor's status as symbol of the state.
It is troubling to note that there is nothing on the Japanese laws that will determine how the process of abdicating will proceed. In fact, the situation is entirely new considering that no such recourse has ever been done since the Meiji era in 1868.
Hirobumi Ito, Japan's first Prime Minister, has been fearful that abdicating the throne will break the Imperial succession system.
Present day leader Shinzo Abe, meanwhile, is willing to introduce a temporary law that will exclusively support Akihito's wish to step down without compromising the Imperial House Legislation.
The situation did not come into fruition in a blink of an eye. The situation has supposedly surfaced back in 2010 when Emperor Akihito expressed his intention with Empress Michiko and the rest of the Imperial Household Agency officials.
In August, the highly-revered symbol of Imperial Japan has voiced once again his wish. The 82-year old emperor intends to make a smooth transition before possibly succumbing to a period where he can no longer fulfill his responsibilities.
In a meeting, it has been suggested that a regency to represent the emperor should be instituted. The approach has been established from 1912 to 1926 during the Taisho era.
However, Akihito has second thoughts about pursuing this alternative since the Taisho emperor himself disagreed with the move. Although no resolution has been in sight, it is clear that Japan's current emperor has spoken his mind.
Meanwhile, the parliament has conveyed that abdication should not be pursued since it will impair the emperor's status.
The current law, which was enacted back in 1947, views abdication as risky to political stability.
With Akihito's wish now in the open, the Japanese government will begin discussing the best route possible for the imperial transition to happen.
