Cabinet OKs Emperor’s abdication date

December 8, 2017

Tokyo- The cabinet of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe adopted Friday a government ordinance to set Emperor Akihito's abdication for April 30, 2019, in line with the Imperial House Council's proposal.

Crown Prince Naruhito will be enthroned the following day, when a new Japanese era will also replace the current Heisei era, which started on Jan. 8, 1989.

From now on the government will make full-fledged discussions on how to proceed with abdication and enthronement ceremonies.

A new era name will be decided and announced much in advance, by the end of 2018, to minimize the adverse effects of the name change on activities of Japanese people and businesses. It will be the first Imperial abdication since Emperor Kokaku in 1817.

Enacted in June, a special law on Emperor Akihito's abdication stipulates that the Emperor steps down on the day the law takes effect and that the Crown Prince ascends to the Chrysanthemum Throne immediately.

The council meeting was held on Dec. 1 based on the law, attended by Abe, who acted as chair, heads of both chambers of parliament, chief justice of the Supreme Court, representatives from the Imperial Family and some others.

The government will in early January set up a task force under the leadership of Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga to prepare for the ceremonies. Members of the group will discuss, among others, whether to hold abdication-related ceremonies as "state acts" of the Emperor under the Constitution.

After the abdication, Emperor Akihito will be given the title of "joko," which means a retired Emperor, and Empress Michiko will be called "jokogo," or joko's wife. Prince Akishino, the second son of the Emperor and Empress, will become "koshi," the first in line to the throne.
Jiji Press