Your words of the Emperor

Only a big milestone after the war 70 years, and after two years, it will celebrate the 2018 years.

I also beyond the eighty, sometimes to remember the various constraints from such terms of physical strength, the past few years, along with the look back on their history of as the Emperor, of this ahead per their own way and served, now give more than a passing thought to year.

Today, in the aging of society advances, when the emperor was also a senior, what kind of way is desirable, on the position that the Emperor, while refrain from touching specifically on the current imperial system, I personally as, I want to talk about that came thinking so far.

Since its accession to the throne, I together make the state act, the desirable way of the Emperor which is positioned as a symbol under the Constitution of Japan, came to spend while exploring every day. As heir of tradition, we deeply think the responsibility to continue to protect this, there further in Japan and the rest of the world that every day become new, the Japanese imperial family is, how alive the tradition to modern, inherent in the society as a lively, while thinking or go to meet the expectations of the people, it has led to today.

Under such circumstances, it will be of some years ago, received two degrees of surgery, in addition since I began to learn a decrease in physical strength due to aging and, from now on, as in the conventional heavy served when it becomes difficult to play, how is that going to Shoshi himself, taken up in the country, to take to the people, also, each one is to be taken up in the royal family to walk me after, now I think. Already beyond the eighty, fortunately Mose to be a healthy, when considering the decline of gradually advancing body, as before, that to fulfill the ministry of symbolism with the body and soul, worried whether not become difficult you have.

Since about my Emperor's place, nearly 28 years, I have during this time, when a lot of joy in our country, also a time of sadness, came to spend with people. I as the Emperor of served up to now, what it came considered important that you first pray for the happiness and the people of well-being than, things when at the same time, sometimes standing beside the people, listen to the voice, it also came considered to be important to snuggle up to think. Emperor together is a symbol, as a role for the symbol of national unity, the emperor is to the people, together with obtaining the understanding of the position of the symbol of the Emperor, the Emperor also, Kokoroshi deep in their own there as, deepen the understanding of the people, always came to feel the need to grow within their own awareness that together with the people. In this sense, Japan around the country, even in particular journey to a remote land and islands, I as a symbolic act of the emperor, came feel that something important. Including the Crown Prince of the era, until now the journey that I have to cover almost the whole country I went along with the Empress, anywhere in the country as well, love the area, to me that there is a people in the street to support the community in steady recognize is, I have this recognition, important as the Emperor, I think the people, the served that pray for the people, that was obtained without have a deep trust and reverence to the people, was that happy.

How to deal with the aging of the Emperor, state act and, that the act continue to shrink without limit as to its symbolism, it seems that it would be impossible. In addition, or an emperor is minor, if it is no longer obtained fulfill its function due to serious illness, even considered putting the regent to act for the acts of the emperor. However, also in this case, it remains a not fulfill the ministry emperor is required to fully its position, there is no change to continue to be the Emperor down to the end of life.

Emperor impair health, if you Tachiita' in serious condition, as was seen in the past, society is stagnant, it is concerned that span a variety of impact on the livelihood of the people. Further, as tradition of the imperial family of the past, when the emperor of demise, continued over the event almost two months every day of heavy Mourning (Mogari), events related to the subsequent mourning ceremony is followed by one year. And its various events, from the fact that various activities involved in the new era to proceed at the same time, people involved in the event, especially the family that is left is not forced to be placed under very difficult circumstances. I think of the wonder that it is not possible to avoid such a situation, it may come and go in the chest.

As I mentioned at the beginning, under the Constitution, the emperor does not have powers related to government. Under these circumstances, this time while looking back a long emperor of the history of our country again, is with the people even when also like how the imperial family is now, phase brought in as Ikeru to build the future of this country, and served as the symbol of the Emperor is always without interruption, remembrance solely that go stable then, we talked about my feelings here.

That obtained the understanding of the public, we hope sincerely.