"Given the age of the Emperor and his current responsibilities for participation in public events, we need to think about the emperor`s concern and carefully examine what can be done," Abe said in a televised address, broadcast by NHK.
On July 13, media reported that Akihito intended to abdicate in favor of his eldest son Crown Prince Naruhito within a few years, citing his age. The abdication, which has not happened in Japan for two centuries, would require an amendment to the Imperial Household Act, as it does not currently allow demising the crown.
Akihito ascended to the Japanese throne in 1989 after Emperor Hirohito`s death. A merely ceremonial role in Japan`s political system, the emperor is a symbol of the nation and of national unity according to the Japanese Constitution.
In 2012, he underwent successful heart bypass surgery.
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