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Japan's Emperor Akihito plans to step down, according to report
Source: Reuters
Japan's Emperor Akihito plans to step down, according to report
Reuters in Tokyo
Wednesday 13 July 2016 11.58 BST
The Japanese Emperor Akihito, who has spent much of his time on the throne trying to heal the wounds of the second world war, intends to abdicate in a few years’ time, public broadcaster NHK has reported, a step that would be unprecedented in modern Japan.
The 82-year-old monarch, who has had heart surgery and been treated for prostate cancer in recent years, expressed his intention to the Imperial Household Agency, NHK said.
It did not cite a reason and officials at the agency could not immediately be reached for comment.
Kyodo news agency, quoting a government source, said Akihito had been expressing his intention to abdicate to people around him for about a year, although in a separate report Kyodo quoted a senior official of the Imperial Household Agency denying that the reports were correct.
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Reuters in Tokyo
Wednesday 13 July 2016 11.58 BST
The Japanese Emperor Akihito, who has spent much of his time on the throne trying to heal the wounds of the second world war, intends to abdicate in a few years’ time, public broadcaster NHK has reported, a step that would be unprecedented in modern Japan.
The 82-year-old monarch, who has had heart surgery and been treated for prostate cancer in recent years, expressed his intention to the Imperial Household Agency, NHK said.
It did not cite a reason and officials at the agency could not immediately be reached for comment.
Kyodo news agency, quoting a government source, said Akihito had been expressing his intention to abdicate to people around him for about a year, although in a separate report Kyodo quoted a senior official of the Imperial Household Agency denying that the reports were correct.
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Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jul/13/japans-emperor-akihito-plans-step-down-reports