# The Emperor Strikes Back; Japanese monarch wishes to abdicate. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 10, 2016, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-emperor-strikes-back-japanese-monarch-wishes-to-abdicate/762302 "2016-08-10T01:54:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**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:** [August 10, 2016, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-emperor-strikes-back-japanese-monarch-wishes-to-abdicate/762302/1 "2016-08-10T01:54:14Z")
Interesting [article.](http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/08/08/the-emperor-strikes-back-japan-s-monarch-takes-on-imperialist-abe.html) It’s pretty clear the Emperor wants to step down and there is plenty of precedent in Japanese history (indeed there’ve been periods where abdication was actually the norm, but not only is there no current law allowing him to do the Constitution itself might need to be amended (a _huge_ deal in Japan as the current one hasn’t been changed since it was adopted after WWII). It would also open of a can of worms re allowing female succession. Of course Abe could always just drag this out and let nature solve the problem for him. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2016, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-emperor-strikes-back-japanese-monarch-wishes-to-abdicate/762302/2 "2016-08-10T02:25:34Z")
Abe has long wanted to amend the Constitution. He already has the 2/3 majority in the Diet; this would be striking the iron when it’s even hotter. ---
**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:** [August 10, 2016, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-emperor-strikes-back-japanese-monarch-wishes-to-abdicate/762302/3 "2016-08-10T04:24:12Z")
Pope Benedict, Beatrix of the Netherlands, Albert of Belgium, Juan Carlos of Spain, Hamad of Qatar, and now Akihito. Are these people forming a club? ---
**Author:** ![drewder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/57b2e6/32.png) [@drewder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewder)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2016, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-emperor-strikes-back-japanese-monarch-wishes-to-abdicate/762302/4 "2016-08-10T04:35:20Z")
What exactly are they going to do if he refuses to Emperor? ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2016, 7:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-emperor-strikes-back-japanese-monarch-wishes-to-abdicate/762302/5 "2016-08-10T07:10:58Z")
Can’t they just make the next-in-line a regent? ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2016, 9:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-emperor-strikes-back-japanese-monarch-wishes-to-abdicate/762302/6 "2016-08-10T09:26:37Z")
That’s what seems to be the proposal, yes. ---
**Author:** ![bienville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@bienville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bienville)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2016, 9:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-emperor-strikes-back-japanese-monarch-wishes-to-abdicate/762302/7 "2016-08-10T09:34:29Z")
> [@alphaboi867](#): > > It would also open of a can of worms re allowing female succession. Emper 'er? I barely _know_ 'er? ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2016, 10:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-emperor-strikes-back-japanese-monarch-wishes-to-abdicate/762302/8 "2016-08-10T10:03:37Z")
> [@drewder](#): > > What exactly are they going to do if he refuses to Emperor? The same thing they always could: absolutely nothing. ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2016, 10:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-emperor-strikes-back-japanese-monarch-wishes-to-abdicate/762302/9 "2016-08-10T10:08:17Z")
> [@alphaboi867](#): > > It would also open of a can of worms re allowing female succession. I don’t see it. Hisahito pushed aside the urgency of changing how the monarch is chosen by being a boy in the chain of succession. Akihito probably still objects to female succession, and it’s unlikely his son would give his approval, if his father were still alive. Soooo, that question’s not likely to be opened again until after Akihito’s death, and even then, only if Hisahito fails to produce a male heir, and forces the issue. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2016, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-emperor-strikes-back-japanese-monarch-wishes-to-abdicate/762302/10 "2016-08-10T13:11:36Z")
> [@alphaboi867](#): > > It would also open of a can of worms re allowing female succession. How so? Isn’t there divine precedent in the form of Amaterasu? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2016, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-emperor-strikes-back-japanese-monarch-wishes-to-abdicate/762302/11 "2016-08-10T13:17:04Z")
> [@drewder](#): > > What exactly are they going to do if he refuses to Emperor? For that matter, what exactly _are_ the constitutional duties of the Emperor in this day and age? ---
**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:** [August 10, 2016, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-emperor-strikes-back-japanese-monarch-wishes-to-abdicate/762302/12 "2016-08-10T19:20:54Z")
Agree that there will be zero chance of change to allow female succession. The people who care the most about the imperial system are the conservatives and they do not want that at all. It was only when that seemed to be the only option were they considering it. The emperor only has ceremonial duties and no political power at all. Not even to the same level of the British monarch. He does have some Shinto religious responsibilities (and it needs to be pointed out that Shinto is not really a religion). ---
**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:** [August 11, 2016, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-emperor-strikes-back-japanese-monarch-wishes-to-abdicate/762302/13 "2016-08-11T00:20:47Z")
> [@Kamino\_Neko](#): > > I don’t see it. Hisahito pushed aside the urgency of changing how the monarch is chosen by being a boy in the chain of succession…only if Hisahito fails to produce a male heir, and forces the issue. The Chrysanthemum Throne is screwed if Prince Hisahito, the only male born in the Imperial family during the past 50 years, has an accident or turns out to be gay & unwilling to lay back and think of Japan. They would always revive one of the old cadet branches though. > [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Pope Benedict, Beatrix of the Netherlands, Albert of Belgium, Juan Carlos of Spain, Hamad of Qatar, and now Akihito. Are these people forming a club? And Prince Charles has to keep representing his mother at their successors’ installations. ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2016, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-emperor-strikes-back-japanese-monarch-wishes-to-abdicate/762302/14 "2016-08-11T02:17:56Z")
> [@alphaboi867](#): > > The Chrysanthemum Throne is screwed if Prince Hisahito, the only male born in the Imperial family during the past 50 years, has an accident or turns out to be gay & unwilling to lay back and think of Japan. Which will be true, no matter how Akihito vacates the throne. His abdication isn’t going to speed Hisahito’s aging, or damage his health. An amendment to change succession is not going to happen until the matter is forced again. They spent over 2 years arguing over it (not female succession specifically, but changing succession) when it looked like it might actually be an issue, then tabled it immediately after it became clear it wouldn’t. It’s not actually something anybody wants to do unless the issue is forced. Even trying to attach it to a hypothetical amendment to allow Akihito to abdicate is more likely to scratch the latter. Hisahito’s 9 years old, so we have at least 20, probably closer to 30, years before his ability to produce an heir is written off (his willingness honestly seems unlikely to be an issue), unless he dies young. So, barring an accident, ~2040 is likely to be the earliest the issue of changing succession is reopened. ---
**Author:** ![drewder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/57b2e6/32.png) [@drewder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewder)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2016, 6:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-emperor-strikes-back-japanese-monarch-wishes-to-abdicate/762302/15 "2016-08-11T06:51:32Z")
I appreciate that the Emperor seems to be trying to resist Abe’s attempts to return to a prewar constitution. ---
**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:** [August 11, 2016, 7:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-emperor-strikes-back-japanese-monarch-wishes-to-abdicate/762302/16 "2016-08-11T07:12:39Z")
Agree that there will be zero chance of change to allow female succession. The people who care the most about the imperial system are the conservatives and they do not want that at all. It was only when that seemed to be the only option were they considering it. The emperor only has ceremonial duties and no political power at all. Not even to the same level of the British monarch. He does have some Shinto religious responsibilities (and it needs to be pointed out that Shinto is not really a religion). > [@drewder](#): > > I appreciate that the Emperor seems to be trying to resist Abe’s attempts to return to a prewar constitution. While this is said tongue-in-cheek, Abe does want to become more militant, but no one will restore the Meiji Constitution. ---
**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:** [December 30, 2016, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-emperor-strikes-back-japanese-monarch-wishes-to-abdicate/762302/17 "2016-12-30T21:14:23Z")
[Update](http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2016/12/26/reference/abdication-panel-leans-toward-one-off-deal-emperor-akihitos-rare-video/#.WGbNLZUzUqQ); it looks like the Japanese government is leaning towards an ad hoc law that would only apply to the current Emperor and not any of his successors. ---
**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:** [December 30, 2016, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-emperor-strikes-back-japanese-monarch-wishes-to-abdicate/762302/18 "2016-12-30T21:42:03Z")
> [@TokyoBayer](#): > > (and it needs to be pointed out that Shinto is not really a religion). :dubious: Unless your definition of ‘religion’ is ‘almost a 1-to-1 match with how Christianity operates’, I can’t think of anything other than ‘religion’ to classify Shinto as. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2016, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-emperor-strikes-back-japanese-monarch-wishes-to-abdicate/762302/19 "2016-12-30T23:53:21Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Pope Benedict, Beatrix of the Netherlands, Albert of Belgium, Juan Carlos of Spain, Hamad of Qatar, and now Akihito. Are these people forming a club? I can’t speak for all of these, but in Netherlands and Belgium abdication after a certain age is the norm, whereas in UK, Norway, Denmark, etc. the throne is normally held until death, barring unusual circumstances (Eddie8). > [@alphaboi867](#): > > The Chrysanthemum Throne is screwed if Prince Hisahito, the only male born in the Imperial family during the past 50 years, has an accident or turns out to be gay & unwilling to lay back and think of Japan. They would always revive one of the old cadet branches though. The Imperial family is [technically descended from a cadet branch of sorts](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Court).