Japan adopts ordinance for Emperor Akihito’s abdication ceremony

March 6, 2018

Tokyo- The Japanese government, at a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, adopted an ordinance stipulating that a ceremony will be held to mark Emperor Akihito's abdication on April 30, 2019.

The ordinance is intended to give a statutory basis to the abdication ceremony, the first one to be held in Japan's history of constitutional government, as it is not stipulated by the Imperial House Law, unlike the ceremony to mark the new Emperor's accession to the Chrysanthemum Throne.

Based on the new ordinance, the government plans to adopt in mid-March its basic policies concerning a series of ceremonies related to the abdication of the Emperor, currently 84.

"We'll continue to conduct deliberations appropriately and do our best in order to smoothly realize the Emperor's abdication and the Crown Prince's accession to the throne," Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told a press conference after the cabinet meeting.

Crown Prince Naruhito, 58, the Emperor's eldest son, is set to accede to the throne on May 1, 2019, the day after his father's abdication.

Also included in the ordinance are rules about the post-abdication living expenses of Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko, who will be given the titles of "joko" and "jokogo," respectively, after retirement. The Imperial Guard Headquarters will continue to guard the couple, who will be allowed to travel on government aircraft.

In addition, the ordinance stipulates that jokogo will be allowed to perform state acts on a temporary basis in place of the new Emperor when he is ill or is traveling overseas for his duties.

On Feb. 20, a government preparatory committee decided that the abdication ceremony will be held as an act of the Emperor in matters of state performed under the constitution and that the ceremony will be called "Taiirei Seiden no Gi." Jiji Press