When Japan’s Emperor Akihito expressed his desire to abdicate, it had precipitated a sort of legal crisis. This was not written into the constitution of the country. On June 9, the Japanese solved this critical problem when its Parliament enacted a law that will allow Akihito to step down and let Crown Prince Naruhito take over.

The Japanese are extremely respectful of their Emperor and it is a tradition they follow, maybe with less grandeur than the British monarch, but definitely with more devotion. The Japanese devotion to the crown can only be compared to the respect for the King that the citizens of Thailand have.

According to news agency reports, this law will not change the constitution. The life-long Emperorship will be available for Naruhito. This law was framed specifically for Emperor Akihito, who will be the first Japanese ruler to give up his throne in 200 years.

The abdication will probably take place in December 2018, the month in which the Emperor turns 85.

—India Legal Bureau