# The Emperor of Japan has abdicated **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 30, 2019, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-emperor-of-japan-has-abdicated/833263 "2019-04-30T14:17:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Lord\_Feldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lord_feldon/32/341_2.png) [@Lord\_Feldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Feldon)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2019, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-emperor-of-japan-has-abdicated/833263/21 "2019-05-02T05:29:24Z")
> [@Sarabellum](#): > > Is it petty of me to be having a bit of enjoyment, knowing that Masako is now the empress and in total control of the court life that they used to bully her for so long? [This account](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/empress-who-suffers-in-silence-1504111.html) of her mother-in-law’s early years as empress do not make me very optimistic on that front. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2019, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-emperor-of-japan-has-abdicated/833263/22 "2019-05-02T05:36:46Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > [At midnight tonight, Japanese Emperor Akihito steps down, and Crown Prince Naruhito becomes the new Emperor,](https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/emperor-announces-abdication-as-japan-marks-end-of-era/ar-AAAIExm?li=BBnb7Kz) Thirty years on the throne-not a bad run. And this one got through his reign without any war crimes! ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2019, 8:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-emperor-of-japan-has-abdicated/833263/23 "2019-05-02T08:04:14Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > I don’t know what the future holds for him, […] Not much of an insight, but I would predict death. Open to taking any and all bets to the contrary! ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2019, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-emperor-of-japan-has-abdicated/833263/24 "2019-05-02T13:01:46Z")
> [@Lord\_Feldon](#): > > [This account](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/empress-who-suffers-in-silence-1504111.html) of her mother-in-law’s early years as empress do not make me very optimistic on that front. I agree 100% with this. Masako is still going to be abused. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2019, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-emperor-of-japan-has-abdicated/833263/25 "2019-05-02T15:40:31Z")
That really pisses me off. I wish the new Emperor could do something. Is the Imperial Household Agency really beyond his control? If it were me, and if I could, heads would (figuratively) roll if my wife were being so mistreated. ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2019, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-emperor-of-japan-has-abdicated/833263/26 "2019-05-03T00:40:50Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > That really pisses me off. I wish the new Emperor could do something. Is the Imperial Household Agency really beyond his control? If it were me, and if I could, heads would (figuratively) roll if my wife were being so mistreated. The Japanese Imperial Household staff actually has more power than their counterparts in the UK. That was by design. For one thing, the Imperial family has no money, land, assets or income of its own. They were forced to give up their properties after the end of WWII. They are kept on allowances and have to ask for money when necessary. I really feel sorry for the brides. The stress seems pretty overwhelming. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2019, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-emperor-of-japan-has-abdicated/833263/27 "2019-05-03T01:57:19Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > Note to QE II: “See, mother? That’s how it’s done”. Love, Chuckie. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2019, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-emperor-of-japan-has-abdicated/833263/28 "2019-05-03T13:13:39Z")
> [@Shmendrik](#): > > So you’re saying everyone has to bow, bow, to his daughter-in-law elect? No, only to his daughter-in-law elect - ed. ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2019, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-emperor-of-japan-has-abdicated/833263/29 "2019-05-03T15:38:01Z")
The new Emperor has one absolute point of leverage: he can resign and free himself and his wife. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2019, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-emperor-of-japan-has-abdicated/833263/30 "2019-05-03T19:34:36Z")
> [@Pleonast](#): > > The new Emperor has one absolute point of leverage: he can resign and free himself and his wife. Actually, the Diet had to pass a special one-off bill to allow Akihito to abdicate. They’d have to do the same for his son and successor… and I doubt they’re in any hurry to. ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2019, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-emperor-of-japan-has-abdicated/833263/31 "2019-05-04T01:02:32Z")
> [@TokyoBayer](#): > > …For one thing, the Imperial family has no money, land, assets or income of its own. They were forced to give up their properties after the end of WWII. They are kept on allowances and have to ask for money when necessary. > > I really feel sorry for the brides. The stress seems pretty overwhelming. On the flip side princesses by birth get to leave the Imperial Family and become commoners when they marry (they even get a dowry payment). It’s sexist, but one could argue it’s a blessing in disguise. ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2019, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-emperor-of-japan-has-abdicated/833263/32 "2019-05-04T15:07:50Z")
For most of Japan’s history, the emperors have been royal symbols with little, if any actual power. Before the Meiji Restoration in 1868 which gave the emperor political power (with limitations) the last emperor with any kind of real power was back in the early 14th century. That emperor only managed to assert power for a limited time before power reverted back to a shogunate (military government). That was been after 150 years of shogunate, so the last time emperors really were powerful was long, long ago. The emperors have been kept in gilded cages pretty much forever. Towards the end of WWII, the army was pushing Emperor Hirohito\* to evacuate to special underground bunkers in Nagano for safety. He resisted because he was afraid of being held against his will and becoming powerless. \*note: Japanese never use the name of the current emperor. He is always called “the Emperor.” Previous emperors are called by the name of their era, which they select. Hence, in Japanese you would never have “Emperor Hirohito.” He was “The Emperor” while living and then posthumously known as “Emperor Showa.” ---
**Author:** ![Annoying\_Buzz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Annoying\_Buzz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annoying_Buzz)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2019, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-emperor-of-japan-has-abdicated/833263/33 "2019-05-10T05:55:50Z")
> [@alphaboi867](#): > > Agreed; they’ll go extinct unless they allow female succession of some sort, but I don’t see that happening any time soon. They were rather close to doing so until the younger brother’s wife gave birth to a son. Public sentiment in favor of changing the rule was high (over 75% IIRC), and the PM at the time was at least not opposed to it. But then once Hisahito was born and there was no more immediate crisis, the powers that be just shrugged and said, “Oh well, problem solved forever. Never mind” ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2019, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-emperor-of-japan-has-abdicated/833263/34 "2019-05-10T11:46:38Z")
> [@Annoying\_Buzz](#): > > They were rather close to doing so until the younger brother’s wife gave birth to a son. Public sentiment in favor of changing the rule was high (over 75% IIRC), and the PM at the time was at least not opposed to it. But then once Hisahito was born and there was no more immediate crisis, the powers that be just shrugged and said, “Oh well, problem solved forever. Never mind” The problem is that the right wingers tend to really, really care about keeping tradition, while everyone else either doesn’t care that much or doesn’t speak out that much. The ruling LDP party depends on the conservative vote, so they are likely to listen to the conservative voices, although the PM at the time was in favor. However, more conservative politicians, commentators and even at least one member of the royal family were opposed. They facing a problem of not only very few people in the line of succession, but also not enough royals to carry out the official duties. There are only 18 members in the entire family, including the retired emperor, his wife, four other elderly members and the two underage childrn, Aiko and the young Prince Hisahito. There are six unmarried princesses, including Aiko, the 17-year-old daughter of the Emperor, but the rest are in their 20s and 30s. Many (most? all?) will likely get married (to commoners, as there are no eligible males in the imperial family) and then will leave the imperial family, leaving fewer and fewer members to take care of the duties. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2019, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-emperor-of-japan-has-abdicated/833263/35 "2019-05-10T19:48:56Z")
Are people as devoted to the Emperor as they were? ---
**Author:** ![Annoying\_Buzz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Annoying\_Buzz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annoying_Buzz)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2019, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-emperor-of-japan-has-abdicated/833263/36 "2019-05-17T01:07:02Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > Are people as devoted to the Emperor as they were? The general populace isn’t really. They’re seen as a nice couple who don’t get involved in political matters but are genuinely compassionate. Liked and respected, but not worshipped except by ultra-nationalist fringe groups who are more devoted to the idea of an emperor than to the actual emperor. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2019, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-emperor-of-japan-has-abdicated/833263/37 "2019-05-17T03:46:27Z")
Interesting side-note. While Akihito’s reign has already been officially designated as the Heisei Era, he will not be officially named as the Heisei Emperor until after his death. ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2019, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-emperor-of-japan-has-abdicated/833263/38 "2019-05-17T04:25:29Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Interesting side-note. While Akihito’s reign has already been officially designated as the Heisei Era, he will not be officially named as the Heisei Emperor until after his death. Having the era names line up with the emperor’s reign is a modern invention. Prior to that, it was messy, and I don’t know all of the details. In Japanese, he is called Joko (‘Emperor Emeritus’) without using his name. Also, era names come first. The new emperor decides his era name which is used for dates in Japan. In daily life, the Japanese dating system is used, so for example, people will remember their birth year with the era name. Calculating the number of years is a pain in the ass. My ex-wife’s grandfather was born in Meiji 37. Then there were the Taish years, Shwa, Heisei and now Reiwa. Fortunately there are sites which do the conversation so if you want to know how long ago he was born, it’s not an addition problem. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2019, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-emperor-of-japan-has-abdicated/833263/39 "2019-05-17T06:37:36Z")
> [@TokyoBayer](#): > > Then there were the Taish years, Shwa, Heisei and now Reiwa. There is of course a typo there, and TB meant the Schwa Era, the turbulent time when Japan was ruled by an upside-down “e.” ---
**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2019, 8:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-emperor-of-japan-has-abdicated/833263/40 "2019-05-17T08:17:14Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > Actually, the Diet had to pass a special one-off bill to allow Akihito to abdicate. They’d have to do the same for his son and successor… and I doubt they’re in any hurry to. Yes, but in theory at least, you can’t really prevent him from just quiting. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-emperor-of-japan-has-abdicated/833263.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-emperor-of-japan-has-abdicated/833263.md?page=3)