The Japanese Parliament for the first time in 200 years, adopted a law allowing the abdication of the Emperor
The throne will be passed to the crown Prince, Naruhito.
TOKYO, June 9. /Offset. TASS Cyril Agafonov. The upper house of Japan’s Parliament approved a special bill on the abdication of Emperor Akihito and transfer the throne to his eldest son, the crown Prince, Naruhito. In the voting took part 235 of 242 deputies, all of them supported the document.
The document implies that renunciation can occur within three years after the promulgation of the law. Officially the date is not known, however, according to press reports, this will happen in December 2018. In the adopted law States that the population of Japan understands the concerns of the Emperor due to the fact that with age, he will not be able to fully perform its functions.
“The first 200 years of the abdication of the Emperor is an important issue associated with the Foundation of the state, as well as a long history and a bright future. The government will carefully work on the preparation of its implementation”, — said in this regard, Prime Minister Abe expressed gratitude for the work and cooperation of all parties.
According to the law, after the abdication Akihito will retain state support and other privileges, officially will refer to “your Majesty”. However, he will be known as “JEKO” that can be translated into Russian as “forsaken Emperor” and his consort, Empress Michiko — “zemgo”. The question of title will affect younger son Akihito Prince Akishino, who, after the abdication of the Emperor will occupy the first place in line to the throne. It is offered to call “Koshi”, which reflects its position in the hierarchy of succession.
Exceptionally
Beginning work on a special bill put the historic case that Akihito addressed the nation in August 2016.
Then he told about his concerns about the ability of performance of duties as a “symbol of the state” in connection with old age.
The monarch hinted that he is ready for the possible transfer of the throne to his son, the crown Prince, Naruhito, but not directly touched on this subject, the word “renunciation” in his speech has not sounded.
This treatment of the population met with great sympathy. As a result, the government has established an expert group, which for several months had discussed how to ensure the abdication of the Emperor, because at present the Imperial house Law, the house provides for the transfer of the throne only after the death of the Emperor.
The government has decided not to make amendments to the said law, since, according to the authorities, it would create a precedent and would potentially exerting political pressure on emperors in the future. In the result, the relevant law was designed specifically for Akihito.
Tron — women
However, the issue of future succession in the Japanese Imperial family remains unresolved, observers say. The fact that 57-year-old Naruhito no son. Next in order of succession to the throne is his younger brother Akishino, and then his son, Hisahito, which is the only male in his generation. In other words, the future of the Imperial family depends on whether he is born a son.
In addition, the public is concerned with the reduction of the Imperial family. Currently, its members are 19 people, but soon they may become smaller as the eldest daughter of Japanese Prince Akishino and granddaughter of the first Emperor Akihito Princess Mako decided to marry his former classmate. The law provides that a Princess after her marriage with ordinary citizens leave the Imperial family.
To address these issues at the initiative of some deputies from the opposition parties, the Parliament adopted a resolution that requires the government to consider the question of whether to allow the Princess to leave the Imperial family upon marriage to commoners and even to start their own family branch. Theoretically, this would open the way to the fact that the throne can pass to women. However, this resolution is non-binding and only implies that the government will report on the results of the review to MPs, but the timeframes are not specified.
The representative of the oldest dynasty
Akihito, who represent the oldest Royal dynasty in the world, was born 23 Dec 1933. He is the eldest son of Emperor Hirohito (1901-1989) and Empress Nagako (1903-2000). In the late 50-ies of XX century Akihito married a girl named Michiko, who had no relationship to the circle of senior courtiers, whom he met on the tennis court.
The last time the Emperor of Japan abdicates in 1817.