Japan's emperor speaks to public in remarks suggesting he wants to abdicate

Japan's Emperor Akihito waves to well-wishers who gathered at the Imperial Palace to mark his 82nd birthday in Tokyo, Japan, in this Dec 23, 2015 file photo. [Photo/Agencies]

LEGAL CHANGES

The emperor also seemed to cast doubt on whether it was appropriate to use an existing system that would allow Naruhito to take over as regent if his father were incapacitated.

"Even in such cases (of a regency), however, it does not change the fact that the emperor continues to be emperor until the end of his life, even though he is unable to fully carry out his duties as the emperor," Akihito said.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told reporters that, in view of the emperor's age and the burden of his official duties, it was necessary to consider what steps could be taken.

The idea of abdication has sparked opposition from Abe's conservative base, which worries debate of the imperial family's future could widen to the topic of letting women inherit and pass on the throne, anathema to traditionalists.

Naruhito's only child is a daughter. Only males can inherit the Chrysanthemum Throne, which after Naruhito would pass to his brother, Prince Akishino and then to nine-year-old nephew Hisahito.

Other conservatives worry devoting political energy to discussing abdication could sidetrack Abe's push to revise the US-drafted pacifist constitution, which many conservatives see as a symbol of Japan's humiliating defeat in World War II.

With Akihito apparently rejecting a regency, the only options would appear to be revising the Imperial Household Law or enacting a special law allowing him to abdicate, said Naotaka Kimizuka, an expert in monarchies at Kanto Gakuin University.

"They will either revise the law without touching on (female) succession, or pass a special law," he said, adding steps could be taken next year.

"It felt as if the emperor were saying 'Please hurry'."

It was the second time Akihito had addressed the public in a video message. The first was after a massive earthquake, deadly tsunami and nuclear crisis hit northeast Japan in March 2011.