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Emperor Akihito of Japan Raises Possibility of Leaving Throne

nytimes.com

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Re: Emperor Akihito of Japan Raises Possibility of Leaving Throne

#81

Post by ezoe »

moogly wrote: post #4

I propose a deal: Let the man rest in exchange for the abolishment of the constitutional monarchy. Symbolic or not, it's outmoded and incongruent with modern egalitarian society. The list of constitutional monarchies is rather embarrassingly long (37 countries).

The emperor was forbidden to perform any political activities by constitution. Simply stating his wish to abdicate is considered a political activities, so the emperor cannot even say that.

This time, he implies he wish to abdicate by saying "When the emperor dies, Japanese economy will face a serious shock, which I want to prevent it", which implies in the time of his death(I don't know the polite way of saying die in English, in Japanese, we have a special polite word for the emperor's death), he dies not as the emperor so the emperor's death doesn't happen(This is just observation. the emperor can't directly say that obviously because the constitution prohibit his political activities.)

It is us, the Japanese, who can change the constitution. To change the Japanese constitution, it requires the national vote.

Also, it is my understanding that the emperor is not, by definition from the constitution, a Japanese person.

The Constitution defines:

The emperor has no political power, his basic human rights is restricted, has no freedom of job choice etc.

Japanese people has political power, basic human rights, freedom of job choices, freedom from being enslaved etc.

Re: Emperor Akihito of Japan Raises Possibility of Leaving Throne

#82

Post by gumby »

moogly wrote: post #57
mehwoot wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Australia voted against the chance to replace its constitutional monarchy because of ambiguities and uncertainties about these questions. People know what they are getting with the existing systems and the constitutional monarchs have no real power. If you're changing that you have to be very careful.

Maybe I am cynical but are you sure they didn't vote against it because they like "traditions", pretty parades and hand-waving and think princes and princesses are quaint and fun and secretly in their hearts they wish they could be one? I do live in a 1000-year-old constitutional monarchy after all and that's the pro arguments I tend to hear. "Good for tourism" is another one.

Also, FWIW: My grandmother held on almost to 100 in the hopes of getting a letter from the Queen (telegrams were already gone by then). She saw no inconsistency in that desire and her otherwise rather socialist, republican sentiments.

Re: Emperor Akihito of Japan Raises Possibility of Leaving Throne

#83

Post by jboynyc »

kogepathic wrote: post #37
gfodor wrote: post #21

I find it bizarre that Japan is having an contentious debate about if it's appropriate for a woman to ascend to a completely powerless role while the US just nominated its first (viable) female candidate for president. edit: Wow, apparently this is an offensive comment. I'm having a hard time twisting my brain to see how, but my point was simply that the it seems odd that there would be contention over a powerless ro…

> while the US just nominated its first (viable) female candidate for president. And as someone who isn't from the US, I find it incredibly bizarre that you haven't had a female leader yet. The UK has had 2 female Prime Ministers (1979-1990, 2016-), Canada has had 1 (1993), and Germany (2005-) to name a few. > I find it bizarre that Japan is having an contentious debate about if it's appropriate for a woman to ascend…

Add to that that the current U.S. Senate has only 20 women members (i.e., 20 percent), which is the highest proportion in the history of the Senate. In the House of Representatives the proportion of women members is below 20 percent (19.4, to be exact), and that, too, is the highest proportion ever.

Re: Emperor Akihito of Japan Raises Possibility of Leaving Throne

#84

Post by tonyedgecombe »

gozur88 wrote: post #25
sspiff wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The president of the united states is arguably also a powerless, symbolic role.

No it isn't. The president of the US has a lot of power. More than the framers of the government allotted to the office.

and yet they find it surprisingly difficult yo make things happen.

Re: Emperor Akihito of Japan Raises Possibility of Leaving Throne

#85

Post by visarga »

moogly wrote: post #4

I propose a deal: Let the man rest in exchange for the abolishment of the constitutional monarchy. Symbolic or not, it's outmoded and incongruent with modern egalitarian society. The list of constitutional monarchies is rather embarrassingly long (37 countries).

> Let the man rest in exchange for the abolishment of the constitutional monarchy.

He's an important piece in the political equation of Japan, even as a symbolic emperor. Any changes in his role will involve delicate negotiations between the parties and they are not in a good position now to do that.

Re: Emperor Akihito of Japan Raises Possibility of Leaving Throne

#86

Post by brandelune »

The buzz in Japan is not so much about the resignation itself but about the timing: exactly when Abe is strong enough to modify the constitution. It is said that the Emperor is trying to slow the constitutional change by first pressing a change that would allow him to resign.

Re: Emperor Akihito of Japan Raises Possibility of Leaving Throne

#87

Post by Houshalter »

keerthiko wrote: post #34
moogly wrote: post #4

I propose a deal: Let the man rest in exchange for the abolishment of the constitutional monarchy. Symbolic or not, it's outmoded and incongruent with modern egalitarian society. The list of constitutional monarchies is rather embarrassingly long (37 countries).

Are you operating from the premise that a non-monarchy is strictly and uniformly superior? Or that figurehead monarchs are bad? With the former I beg to differ, having lived in the Middle East for a significant portion of my life. With the latter, well, maybe, it's a marginal cost to keep many traditionalists and culturally conservative members of a very proud people sated. Strangely (to me) people sing the praises o…

The idea that monarchies are The Worst is meme that has permeated Western culture. Because of a long history of fighting against them.

I don't think they are the worst, but they definitely have problems. They tend to be very conservative. They tend to heavily favor the upper class. They tend to be more likely to start and maintain terrible wars. And the system encourages civil wars. And the lack of selection means there is no guarantee the monarch is competent, more than just any random person.

Re: Emperor Akihito of Japan Raises Possibility of Leaving Throne

#88

Post by twblalock »

gumby wrote: post #80
moogly wrote: post #57

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Maybe I am cynical but are you sure they didn't vote against it because they like "traditions", pretty parades and hand-waving and think princes and princesses are quaint and fun and secretly in their hearts they wish they could be one? I do live in a 1000-year-old constitutional monarchy after all and that's the pro arguments I tend to hear. "Good for tourism" is another one.

Cynical you may be, but your case doesn't apply to Australia (I can understand your perspective though!). The Australian constitutional referendum was cleverly constructed to keep the monarchy. TWO republican options were offered in order to split the republican side, and both were engineered for short-term aggrandizement of politicians rather than give the country a sound constitution. So a "first, do no harm" strat…

The problem is, there are likely to be multiple competing proposals, and even if they aren't on the ballot at the same time, they create a lot of uncertainty. Many voters will choose to avoid that uncertainty by voting to keep the monarchy.

At this point, the monarchy is the default position, and I think it will stay that way until the monarch does something to piss off the majority of the Australian people.

Re: Emperor Akihito of Japan Raises Possibility of Leaving Throne

#89

Post by ptaipale »

ajuc wrote: post #12
hrktb wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I see how it can sound ridiculous if we take "symbolic" into any other context. But in this case the symbolic part is a really big deal, just as the pope has a symbolic role that affects a ton of people.

Pope can actually make decisions with consequences.

Yes, the pope can actually make decisions with consequences, but as Stalin put it, "The Pope? How many divisions has he got?"

Well, he doesn't have any, the power comes through his symbolic position.

Re: Emperor Akihito of Japan Raises Possibility of Leaving Throne

#90

Post by neximo64 »

Houshalter wrote: post #87
keerthiko wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Are you operating from the premise that a non-monarchy is strictly and uniformly superior? Or that figurehead monarchs are bad? With the former I beg to differ, having lived in the Middle East for a significant portion of my life. With the latter, well, maybe, it's a marginal cost to keep many traditionalists and culturally conservative members of a very proud people sated. Strangely (to me) people sing the praises o…

The idea that monarchies are The Worst is meme that has permeated Western culture. Because of a long history of fighting against them. I don't think they are the worst, but they definitely have problems. They tend to be very conservative. They tend to heavily favor the upper class. They tend to be more likely to start and maintain terrible wars. And the system encourages civil wars. And the lack of selection means th…

Is this true? Lots of Europe decided to keep their monarchies, as does Australia, NZ and Canada. This leaves out the US which is not solely the definition of 'Western Culture'

Also they don't tend to favour the upper class there's broad support across ideologies and social class that support them. In fact, the republican movements tend to come from upper classes, well true in New Zealand and Australia anyway (not sure of the other monarchies)

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