Disir
Platinum Member
- Sep 30, 2011
- 28,003
- 9,608
- 910
Japan’s Emperor Akihito confirmed reports on Monday, in a rare public address, that he’s thinking of stepping down from the “Chrysanthemum Throne” in the next few years due to health concerns.
“Fortunately I am now in good health,” the 82-year-old said in his first televised broadcast since the Fukushima nuclear disaster. “However, when I consider that my fitness level is gradually declining, I am worried that it may become difficult for me to carry out my duties as the symbol of the state with my whole being as I have done until now.”
The idea of Akihito becoming the the first Japanese monarch to step down in nearly 200 years has sparked a constitutional debate in Japan, for he is legally expected to serve until his death. But a look back at TIME’s coverage of the 125th Emperor’s life reveals that he is no stranger to breaking the mold.
What to Know About Japan's Emperor Akihito: A Lifetime of Firsts
He is stepping down in 2019.
“Fortunately I am now in good health,” the 82-year-old said in his first televised broadcast since the Fukushima nuclear disaster. “However, when I consider that my fitness level is gradually declining, I am worried that it may become difficult for me to carry out my duties as the symbol of the state with my whole being as I have done until now.”
The idea of Akihito becoming the the first Japanese monarch to step down in nearly 200 years has sparked a constitutional debate in Japan, for he is legally expected to serve until his death. But a look back at TIME’s coverage of the 125th Emperor’s life reveals that he is no stranger to breaking the mold.
What to Know About Japan's Emperor Akihito: A Lifetime of Firsts
He is stepping down in 2019.
