日本明仁天皇暗示希望退位

Japan’s Emperor Akihito signalled his intention to abdicate on Monday in a rare televised message, expressing concerns about fulfilling his duties due to declining health.

周一，日本明仁天皇(Emperor Akihito)在一次罕见的视频讲话中暗示自己有意退位，他表达了对自己健康状况越来越糟、难以履行职责的担忧。

The emperor’s intention to step down in a few years’ time, first reported by public broadcaster NHK last month, has no precedent in modern Japan and opens up a sensitive debate on the future of the world’s oldest royal family.

日本公共电视台NHK上月首次报道了明仁天皇有意在几年后退位的消息。明仁天皇的这种意愿在日本现代史上并无先例，它引发了一场围绕这个世界上最古老皇室家族未来的敏感辩论。

“When I consider that my fitness level is gradually declining, I am worried that it may become difficult for me to carry out my duties as the symbol of the state with my whole being as I have done until now,” the emperor said in a 10-minute message aired on NHK.

在通过NHK播放的一段10分钟的视频讲话中，明仁天皇说：“考虑到身体逐渐衰弱时，我担忧或难以像至今为止那样，全身心地完成象征天皇的公务。”

“It is my hope . . . that the duties of the emperor as the symbol of the state can continue steadily without a break. With this earnest wish, I have decided to make my thoughts known,” he said, speaking slowly and with emphasis.

明仁天皇缓慢地强调道：“衷心祈愿……象征天皇的公务永远不会中断、稳定持续下去，我在此讲述了自身的想法。”

The message was the emperor’s second televised speech since he called on “each and every Japanese” to help each other in the aftermath of Japan’s earthquake and tsunami in 2011.

这是明仁天皇第二次发表电视讲话。他上一次发表电视讲话是在2011年日本遭遇大地震和海啸后，当时他呼吁“所有日本人”互相帮助。

Opinion polls over the past few days have shown strong public support for the 82-year-old emperor’s desire to retire, with many sympathising with his hard schedule despite recent treatment for cancer and heart problems.

过去几天的民调显示，日本公众强烈支持这位82岁天皇退位的愿望，许多人对于他近期接受癌症及心脏病治疗、但还要忙于满满的公务日程表示同情。

But there is no provision in Japanese legislation that allows an emperor to abdicate, so a new clause or revision would be needed to make it possible.

但是，日本法律中没有允许天皇退位的条款，所以需要增加一项新条款或者修订法律，才能让此事变得有可能实现。

In a reflection of his heavily constrained role as a symbol of the state, the emperor carefully avoided using the word “abdication” in his message. Using the term, experts say, could imply that the emperor is intervening in politics in a violation of the postwar constitution.

明仁天皇在讲话中小心翼翼地避免使用“退位”这个词，反映出他作为国家象征的角色受到的严重限制。专家表示，如果使用这个词，可能暗示天皇在干涉政治，这是违反战后宪法的。

Some experts say the abdication provides an opportunity to bring changes to the 1947 Imperial House Law, which critics have said is outdated.

有些专家表示，退位为修订1947年《皇室典范》(Imperial House Law)提供了机会。批评人士称，这部法律已经过时了。

The occasion could rekindle debate on whether to allow female monarchs and their descendants to inherit the throne, although the idea has faced fierce opposition from traditionalists.

此事可能会重新引发是否应允许皇族女性及其后代继承皇位的辩论，尽管这一主张遭到了传统派人士的强烈反对。

The 56-year-old Crown Prince Naruhito, the emperor’s eldest son, would succeed to the Chrysanthemum Throne, but his only child Aiko, a girl, could not follow him under Japan’s male-only succession laws.

明仁天皇的长子、今年56岁的皇太子德仁(Crown Prince Naruhito)将会继承皇位，但依据继承者只限于“男系男性”的法律，德仁唯一的孩子、公主爱子(Aiko)未来不能继承他的皇位。

At present, the second in line to the throne is Prince Akishino, the emperor’s younger son, followed by his son Prince Hisahito.

目前，第二顺位皇位继承人是明仁天皇次子文仁亲王(Prince Akishino)，排在文仁后面的是他的儿子悠仁亲王(Prince Hisahito)。