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.

週一，日本明仁天皇(Emperor Akihito)在一次罕見的視頻講話中暗示自己有意退位，他表達了對自己健康狀況越來越糟、難以履行職責的擔憂。

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.

日本公共電視臺NHK上月首次報道了明仁天皇有意在幾年後退位的消息。明仁天皇的這種意願在日本現代史上並無先例，它引發了一場圍繞這個世界上最古老皇室家族未來的敏感辯論。

“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.

在通過NHK播放的一段10分鐘的視頻講話中，明仁天皇說：“考慮到身體逐漸衰弱時，我擔憂或難以像至今爲止那樣，全身心地完成象徵天皇的公務。”

“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.

明仁天皇緩慢地強調道：“衷心祈願……象徵天皇的公務永遠不會中斷、穩定持續下去，我在此講述了自身的想法。”

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.

這是明仁天皇第二次發表電視講話。他上一次發表電視講話是在2011年日本遭遇大地震和海嘯後，當時他呼籲“所有日本人”互相幫助。

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.

過去幾天的民調顯示，日本公衆強烈支持這位82歲天皇退位的願望，許多人對於他近期接受癌症及心臟病治療、但還要忙於滿滿的公務日程表示同情。

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，日本法律中沒有允許天皇退位的條款，所以需要增加一項新條款或者修訂法律，才能讓此事變得有可能實現。

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.

明仁天皇在講話中小心翼翼地避免使用“退位”這個詞，反映出他作爲國家象徵的角色受到的嚴重限制。專家表示，如果使用這個詞，可能暗示天皇在干涉政治，這是違反戰後憲法的。

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say the abdication provides an opportunity to bring changes to the 1947 Imperial House Law, which critics have said is outdated.

有些專家表示，退位爲修訂1947年《皇室典範》(Imperial House Law)提供了機會。批評人士稱，這部法律已經過時了。

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.

此事可能會重新引發是否應允許皇族女性及其後代繼承皇位的辯論，儘管這一主張遭到了傳統派人士的強烈反對。

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.

明仁天皇的長子、今年56歲的皇太子德仁(Crown Prince Naruhito)將會繼承皇位，但依據繼承者只限於“男系男性”的法律，德仁唯一的孩子、公主愛子(Aiko)未來不能繼承他的皇位。

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，第二順位皇位繼承人是明仁天皇次子文仁親王(Prince Akishino)，排在文仁後面的是他的兒子悠仁親王(Prince Hisahito)。