The Emperor turned 85 on Dec. 23.
With his abdication slated for April 30 next year, this is the last birthday in his current position. So particularly this time, with deepest emotion, we would like to celebrate the Emperor's birthday.
When the Emperor expressed in the summer 2016 his intention to abdicate, most people reacted with surprise.
The Constitution stipulates that "The Emperor ... shall not have powers related to government." To the extraordinary development of the Emperor expressing his intention to abdicate, the government and the Diet, while taking into account that it would not run counter to the Constitution, prepared a special law. Thanks to this, the change of an Imperial reign is to be realized.
At a press conference held prior to his birthday, the Emperor said, "It gives me deep comfort that the Heisei era is coming to an end, free of war in Japan." These are words that could only be expressed by the Emperor, who has worked for the peace of Japan and the national tranquility.
Ever since ascending to the throne, he has spent his days searching for what the role of the Emperor should be as the symbol of the state. Derived from this, he has become the embodiment of the image of the Emperor in Heisei era through his trips to console the spirits of the war dead and his visits to disaster-afflicted areas, among other endeavors.
According to a survey of the public taken by The Yomiuri Shimbun, 80 percent of people answered that they favored continuing the current system of the emperor being the symbol of the state. There may be many people who have been touched by the Emperor's stance of remaining close to the people and trying to share life's joys and sorrows with them.
Vital support of the Empress
It is the Empress who has been a great support to the Emperor in carrying out his duties. The Emperor said, "I am also truly grateful to the Empress, who ... continued to serve with great devotion both the Imperial family and the people of Japan."
The image of the Empress, who spares caring thoughts for the people around her while taking part in diverse official duties, in tandem with the Emperor, has further reduced the distance between the Imperial family and the people.
With the change of an Imperial reign next year, those official duties that the Emperor and Empress have assumed, including their attendance in the three major local events, are to be succeeded by Crown Prince Naruhito, set to become the new emperor, and Crown Princess Masako.
The crown prince said with emphasis, "It is important to faithfully fulfill the role of the symbol of the state." He also expressed his intention to sincerely take on "new official duties" that could arise from the needs of society.
The crown prince will apply himself to official duties in the period that follows this Heisei era, inheriting the image the Emperor has built as the symbol of the state. It is good tidings that Crown Princess Masako, set to become the new empress, has steadily been resuming her official duties.
In turn, most of the official duties of the crown prince are to be assumed by Prince Akishino. He has already been fulfilling many of those duties.
The sharing of official duties assumed by the Imperial family is a challenge to be faced in the days ahead. Discussions should be deepened so that the Imperial family will be able to sustainably assume duties suitable to a new era, even by taking a hard look at what Imperial family should be like in the future.
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 23, 2018)
Read more from The Japan News at https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/
