EDITORIAL: Heisei Era at 20

Emperor Akihito marked the 20th anniversary of his accession to the Chrysanthemum Throne on Thursday.

Many memorable events have occurred during the Heisei Era, as Akihito's reign is known. The previous Showa Era (1926-1989) was turbulent, defined by the nation's devastating defeat in World War II and its amazing postwar economic growth.

During the past two decades, Japan has weathered prolonged economic stagnation and natural disasters.

On such occasions, the emperor visited stricken areas and tried to encourage survivors in evacuation centers. He made a point of getting down on his knees and holding people's hands while he talked with them. He also visited numerous welfare facilities around the nation. Each time, he was accompanied by Empress Michiko.

The emperor and the empress have always been quick to offer words of sympathy to those in distress, making it abundantly clear they care. Their presence has proved uplifting and healed the hearts of many people in this age of stagnation and anxiety.

Emperor Akihito has also been facing up to the negative legacies of the Showa Era. He has visited many wartime battle sites to console the spirits of those who died. His speeches at diplomatic occasions often have expressed regret for Japan's wartime behavior. The emperor's consistent expressions of longing for peace have left a strong impression on Japanese at a time when the lessons of history tend to be forgotten.

Since he ascended the throne, Akihito has made 15 trips overseas. There is no denying that the diplomatic activities of the emperor and other members of the imperial family have contributed greatly to promoting international goodwill and reconciliation.

As the first emperor to accede to the Chrysanthemum Throne under the postwar Constitution, which defines the status of the emperor as "the symbol" of the nation, Akihito has been exploring with great effort an untrodden path. The new "Heisei style" he has adopted for performing his duties has met the demands of the times and won strong popular support.

On the other hand, we seem to have left it entirely to the emperor to define the task, scope and limits of the role he is expected to perform as the symbol of the nation.

Because of the emperor's presence and his personality, we may also have expected him to perform a role that would overstep the boundary of the Constitution from time to time. One example of such expectations resulted from Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada's controversial remarks about the emperor's ritual speech to open a Diet session. Okada drew criticism by suggesting that ways should be found to ensure that the emperor's words at these occasions reflect his feelings.

The Constitution requires the emperor to refrain from engaging in political activities except for performing acts in "matters of state" with "the advice and approval of the Cabinet." If the emperor got actively involved in diplomatic efforts overseas or made remarks with potential political implications, his actions and words could be hijacked for political purposes.

We should remain sensitive to this possibility, while respecting the emperor's feelings so that constitutional principles won't become emasculated.

Akihito, who has been fighting cancer, turns 76 on Dec. 23.

His somewhat strained relationship with Crown Prince Naruhito must be a source of anxiety.

The Imperial Household Agency plans to review the emperor's official duties and reduce the number of speeches he delivers, starting this year.

The 20th anniversary of the emperor's enthronement offers an ideal opportunity for the nation to ponder the future of the imperial family. At a news conference held prior to the anniversary, the emperor said he believes that both the crown prince and Prince Fumihito, his younger son, have "been developing well-considered views" about what being emperor entails.

We want to hear the crown prince, who is to inherit the throne, offer his thoughts on this issue. The people, for their part, should also think about what kind of role they want the emperor to perform within the framework of the Constitution.

One big challenge facing the imperial family is securing the line of succession in the future. Public debate over whether female offspring or an heir of female lineage should be allowed to ascend the throne has been shelved since the birth of Prince Hisahito to Prince Fumihito and his wife, Princess Kiko, three years ago.

Serious and careful debate should start to build national consensus on this issue.

--The Asahi Shimbun, Nov. 12(IHT/Asahi: November 13,2009)