File of Japanese Emperor Akihito as Parliament is set to pass bill allowing his abdication

Record ID: 877730

  • Title: File of Japanese Emperor Akihito as Parliament is set to pass bill allowing his abdication
  • Date: 18th May 2017
  • Summary: HANOI, VIETNAM (FILE - MARCH 2, 2017) (REUTERS) PEOPLE WAVING FLAGS COUPLE WALKING Akihito and Michiko met the surviving widows of Japanese soldiers who fought in Vietnam during World War Two. When the war ended, rather than return home, some 600 former soldiers stayed and were recruited by late revolutionary leader Ho Chi Minh to bring military expertise to fight the French. Some women who married Japanese soldiers saw their husbands go home in 1954 as they were not allowed to take families.
  • Embargoed: 1st June 2017 08:20
  • Keywords: Japanese Emperor Akihito Emperor Akihito monarchy abdication profile piece Japanese Lower House of Parliament
  • Location: EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND, UNITED KINGDOM / TOKYO, IWO JIMA, MINAMISANRIKU CITY, JAPAN / MANILA, PHILIPPINES / HANOI, VIETNAM
  • City: EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND, UNITED KINGDOM / TOKYO, IWO JIMA, MINAMISANRIKU CITY, JAPAN / MANILA, PHILIPPINES / HANOI, VIETNAM
  • Country: Various
  • Topics: Arts / Culture / Entertainment,Royals
  • Reuters ID: LVA00F6HDRVB9
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text:On Friday (June 2), Japan's Lower House of Parliament is expected to vote for a bill to allow Emperor Akihito to abdicate, making room for heir Crown Prince Naruhito to take over the throne.
    After the Lower House of Parliament vote the bill will be sent to the Upper House where it is expected to be voted on early next week, with a last minute additional non-binding draft resolution to allow female members to remain part of the Imperial Household even after they marry. Currently they forced to leave the Imperial family and become commoners.
    When voted in - and it is expected to be pass with little opposition - it will be the first time in 200 years that a Japanese monarch will be able to give up the throne. Akihito is expected to abdicate at the end of 2018.
    Akihito, born December 23, 1933, has spent much of his reign working to heal the wounds of a war waged across Asia in his father's name and bringing the monarchy closer to ordinary citizens.
    Last August, Akihito gave a rare public message saying that he feared his age would prevent him from carrying out his duties, drawing sympathy from many ordinary Japanese.
    The emperors were once considered divine, but are currently defined in the constitution as a symbol of the "unity of the people" with no political power. His ceremonial duties range from tree-plantings to hosting banquets for visiting foreign leaders and greeting new ambassadors.
    Akihito and Empress Michiko are warmly regarded for their role in comforting the public in tough times, as when they knelt to talk to people at shelters after disasters, an action seen as bringing them closer to the people.
  • Copyright Holder: FILE REUTERS (CAN SELL)
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2017. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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