The Japanese emperor, in a rare address to the public, signaled Monday his apparent wish to abdicate by expressing concern about his ability to carry out his duties fully. Abe and his ultra-conservative supporters want to scrap a part of the war-renouncing article and upgrade the emperor to the sovereign again. Akihito brought the cloistered imperial family closer to the public and broke with other traditions, including his marriage to a commoner. If he does, it isn't expected to happen immediately, as legal changes would be needed to allow him to do so. He has repeatedly said he respects Japan's postwar pacifist constitution and is committed to his status as the symbol and the unity of the people, not the sovereign.

Source: New Zealand Herald August 08, 2016 05:13 UTC