Japanese Foreign Minister: Emperor Should Use Own Words
Like any other constitutional monarch, Japan’s Emperor Akihito does not ever voice his politics. Even when he opens Parliament, or the Diet, as he did back in September, his speech is written for him by the Cabinet and approved of by the government.
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But now, the Foreign Minister would like to change that a bit. Katsuya Okada told members of the Cabinet in an informal conversation about “whether we can make efforts to have the wording reflect the Emperor’s thoughts, even if it’s just a little bit.”
“I want it (the agency) to consider arranging things so we are given words in which the Emperor’s feelings are included to some degree,” Okada told reporters.
Okada also pointed out that Emperor Akihito’s words rarely change from each session opening.
According to Kyodo News Agency, the Emperor has described this duty as a “great pleasure to gather with one and all who represent the whole nation,” and also, “It is my sincere hope that in dealing with domestic and international problems we face, the Diet as the highest organ of state power will fully accomplish its mission and comply with the trust of the people.”