To the Point

Japan's 2,500 year-old monarchy at a crossroads

For the first time in 2500 years, the Emperor of Japan is asking to step down . Emperor Akihito has been stripped of all authority and can't retire on his own. He's 82 years old and he's suffers from cancer — but abdication has implications beyond his personal problems.

By Warren Olney • Aug 9, 2016 • 10m Listen

For the first time in 2500 years, the Emperor of Japan is asking to step down. Emperor Akihito has been stripped of all authority and can't retire on his own. He's 82 years old and he's suffers from cancer — but abdication has implications beyond his personal problems.

President Barack Obama with Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko (C), Crown Prince Naruhito and

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at the Tokyo Imperial Palaceon April 24, 2014

State Department photo by William Ng

Herbert Bix is professor emeritus at Binghamton University at the State University of New York. He's author of Hirohito and the Making of Modern Japan, a Pulitzer Prize winner for nonfiction.

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To the Point

Japan's 2,500 year-old monarchy at a crossroads

For the first time in 2500 years, the Emperor of Japan is asking to step down . Emperor Akihito has been stripped of all authority and can't retire on his own. He's 82 years old and he's suffers from cancer — but abdication has implications beyond his personal problems.

Share

To the Point

Japan's 2,500 year-old monarchy at a crossroads

For the first time in 2500 years, the Emperor of Japan is asking to step down . Emperor Akihito has been stripped of all authority and can't retire on his own. He's 82 years old and he's suffers from cancer — but abdication has implications beyond his personal problems.

Share