By Ahmad Al-Hamily and Miyoko Ishigami
TOKYO, Jan 29, (KUNA) -- The 125th Emperor of Japan Akihito will abdicate the throne on April 30, 2019, paving the way to his eldest son Crown Prince Naruhito to become the new symbolic leader of the land of the rising sun.
After 30 years of being Emperor, Akihito's decision to abdicate the throne came due to declining health and aging. He is the first Emperor to abdicate in about two centuries.
Succeeding his father Emperor Hirohito (April 29, 1901-January 7, 1989) Emperor Akihito ushered in the Heisei era, roughly meaning peace everywhere, as oppose to his predecessor's Showa era "radiant glory." Emperors Hirohito and Akihito eras had their "ups and downs" with Japan almost decimated after WWII in the mid-1940s and bouncing back to the highly developed country of today.
While Emperor Akihito's era will be coming to an end, it is very important to ask a number of crucial questions: What will this step mean to Japan and the world? Moreover, what is awaiting the future Emperor of Japan, Naruhito.
An NHK Public Opinion Survey on the feelings towards the Emperor between 1973 and 2013 showed that feelings of respect and like were high especially in the Heisei era with the percentage being around 30 to 35 percent out of a scale of 50.
In the same period, feelings of dislike were lower than five percent, while feelings of "nothing in particular" towards the Emperor varied throughout the years.
People in Japan have respect for Emperor Akihito, who proactively fulfilled his official duties even after reaching over 80 years of age, said Dr. Hideya Kawanishi, Associate Professor at the Nagoya University and an imperial affairs expert, in an interview with Kuwait News Agency (KUNA).
He added that many Japanese citizens welcomed Emperor Akihito's decision to abdicate, thinking that he deserved to spend the rest of his life in a manner he chooses after long serving the people as the humane Emperor and the symbol of the land.
Beyond the sentimentalism, Dr. Kawanishi touched on the economic differences between the Showa and Heisei eras, indicating that the economy seemed to slow down post Showa era, which ended in the late 1980s.
There is a mood of self-control more in social activities at the beginning of the Heisei era because of the shift from Showa after the demise of Emperor Hirohito, the academic added.
In a January press conference, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said that the new imperial era's announcement may occur on April 1.
He stated during a news conference in Ise, Mie Prefecture, "Tradition dictates that the name of a new era is decided on and disclosed to the public following the start of the new Imperial era." If the name of the era was announced due to the demise of the Emperor there is a possibility of maintaining a similar status quo to the Heisei era; however, the people feel optimistic about the abdication, said Dr. Kawanishi.
Positive economic effects might come out of the change of the era, indicated the academic, adding that the Emperor acts as a symbolic equilibrium for the people of Japan especially in the political domain between the left and the right.
Dr. Kawanishi said that naming an imperial era, especially in pre-WWII Japan, was a significant step displaying the strength of the Emperor and the government.
The tradition continues today albeit lesser emphases on the power of the Emperor on government affairs, affirmed the academic, adding that as the rules stipulate, each Emperor was given a name for his era upon assuming post.
Dr. Kawanishi indicated that the delay in disclosing the name to the public was to honor the agreed upon customs.
On what was expected from the current Crown Prince and future Emperor Naruhito, the Japanese academic said that his father, Emperor Akihito, stayed closer to the people and connected with them in many ways.
"I presume such a role will be required from the new Emperor as well," stated Dr. Kawanishi who added that many foreigners come, live and work in Japan. It may be necessary for the Emperor to not only play a role as the symbol of "the unity of the people," but also help in encouraging more cooperation with the world.
While the Japanese people might be looking forward to what the future has in stored for them and the upcoming Emperor, the abdication has garnered interest from international broadcasters with news focusing on Emperor Akihito's last public duties.
There is considerable news reporting and interest in the subject of Emperor Akihito's abdication, affirmed a former senior Foreign Ministry diplomat and also former Ambassador of Japan to Pakistan and Canada, Sadaaki Numata.
Numata, a Press Secretary and interpreter who accompanied Emperor Akihito in his visits to the US and Canada, said that the process of abdication would not have an impact on Japan domestic and foreign policies; however, it was also true that Emperor has an important role in "symbolizing international goodwill and friendship" and promoting such concepts.
Especially in the Heisei era, Emperor Akihito made it his mission to promote the concept of peace and friendship while visiting 28 countries since ascending to the throne, not counting the ones while Crown Prince, which brings the total to 51.
Japanese government has its own foreign policy while Emperor Akihito continued to dedicate himself to spreading peace in Japan and worldwide by praying for the souls of those who lost their lives on battlefields and war, said Numata.
The Japanese official indicated that the future era announcement would show the world what the upcoming Emperor Naruhito is eager to relate even if the matter was symbolic.
Even though it is purely symbolic, the announcement represented "practical difficulties" in the lives of people such as setting the Japanese calendars, a thing acknowledged by Prime Minister Abe, said Numata.
He added that Emperor Akihito had said that the new Emperor was expected to walk in his own path, keeping pace with an ever-changing society.
Speaking from his experiences, Numata said that there was great interest abroad in the affairs of the Imperial family, adding that to have a greater understanding; foreigners might want to tap into the mindset of the Japanese people and their relation with family.
"In doing so, it is important not to be captive to old stereotypes about the Imperial Japan. What I mean is that, it is important to understand the change from the pre-war Imperial Japan to today's Japan," said Numata, adding, "the Emperor and the Empress have played their roles in the best way they thought possible and it is time for the Crown Prince to step in". (end) mk.gta