Tokyo, Aug. 8: It has been something of an open secret in Japan that Emperor Akihito would like a privilege most people take for granted: At 82, he wants to retire. If parliament grants Akihito's wish to abdicate, it would be the biggest transformation of the Japanese monarchy since the war. While the emperor now has only symbolic power, an abdication could also resurrect a contentious issue in Japan: the debate over allowing a woman to occupy the throne. But Japanese law, which says an emperor serves until death, makes no provision for abdication. If Akihito steps down, the move could redefine Japan's royal family, the world's oldest hereditary monarchy.

Source: The Telegraph August 08, 2016 21:11 UTC