日本明仁天皇稱因身體原因做好退位準備

Japan's Emperor Akihito has strongly indicated he wants to step down, saying he fears his age will make it difficult to fulfill his duties.

日本明仁天皇強烈暗示希望退位，稱擔心自己年事已高，難以履行職責。

The revered 82-year-old emperor's comments came in only his second-ever televised address to the public.

現年82歲的天皇備受尊崇，在其第二次面向公衆的電視講話中，他流露了自己的意向。

Emperor Akihito did not explicitly say he wanted to abdicate as he is barred from making political statements.

由於不能發佈政治聲明，明仁天皇並未明確表示希望退位。

PM Shinzo Abe said the government would take the remarks "seriously" and discuss what could be done.

日本首相安倍晉三稱，政府會“嚴肅”對待天皇的講話並商討可行措施。

"Upon reflecting how he handles his official duty and so on, his age and the current situation of how he works, I do respect the heavy responsibility the emperor must be feeling and I believe we need to think hard about what we can do," he said.

他說：“考慮到天皇處理公務和其他事務的問題，以及他的年紀和當前的工作狀況，我非常尊重天皇面臨的沉重職責，同時我們需要認真思考能做些什麼。”

Akihito, who has had heart surgery and was treated for prostate cancer, has been on the throne in Japan since the death of his father, Hirohito, in 1989.

明仁在其父裕仁天皇1989年去世後成爲日本天皇，曾接受心臟手術和前列腺癌的治療。

In his 10-minute pre-recorded message, he said he had "started to reflect" on his years as emperor, and contemplate his position in the years to come.

在預先錄製好的10分鐘講話裏，他說自己“開始反思”作爲天皇的時光，並考慮自己將來的位置。

Why can't the emperor abdicate?

爲什麼天皇不能退位？

Abdication is not mentioned under Japan's existing laws, so they would need to be changed for the emperor to be able to stand down. The changes would also have to be approved by parliament.

日本現行法律中並未提及退位事宜，因此天皇退位需要修改法律。而法律的修改需要在議會通過。

What do the public think?

民衆怎麼看？

Most support the emperor's desire to step down - a recent survey by the Kyodo news agency found more than 85% saying abdication should be legalised. But the move is opposed by some more conservative sections of Japanese society.

日本共同社近期一項調查顯示，大多數人支持天皇退位的意向。超過85%的人表示退位應當合法化，但日本社會中一些更爲保守的人士對此表示反對。

Is this the first time a revision of the law has been discussed?

這是第一次討論修改法律嗎？

A debate about whether or not a woman would be able to ascend the throne was triggered in 2006 when the emperor had no grandsons, but was postponed after a boy was born to the imperial family.

2006年，因天皇沒有孫子而展開了關於女性能否繼承皇位的爭論。皇室有男孩降生後，爭論得以擱置。

What does the emperor do?

天皇做些什麼？

The emperor has no political powers but has several official duties, such as greeting foreign dignitaries. Japan's monarchy is entwined in the Shinto religion and the emperor still performs religious ceremonies. He also plants and harvests a small rice paddy inside the palace while the empress raises silkworms.

天皇沒有政治權力，但需要承擔一些公務，比如接待外國的重要來賓。日本的君主制與神道教密切相關，天皇還要參與宗教儀式。他還在宮內的一小塊稻田裏種植和收割莊稼，而皇后則養蠶。

If he were to abdicate, it would be the first time a Japanese emperor has stepped down since Emperor Kokaku in 1817.

如果明仁天皇退位，這將是1817年光格天皇退位之後，首次有日本天皇退位。

A major milestone year marking the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II has passed, and in two years we will be welcoming the 30th year of Heisei.

戰後70年這一大的節點過去，2年後，將迎來平成三十年。

As I am now more than 80 years old and there are times when I feel various constraints such as in my physical fitness, in the last few years I have started to reflect on my years as the Emperor, and contemplate on my role and my duties as the Emperor in the days to come.

我已超過80歲，在體力方面等有時也感到種種侷限，這幾年來，在回顧作爲天皇的自身足跡的同時，也開始思考關於將來自己的應有狀態以及公務。

As we are in the midst of a rapidly aging society, I would like to talk to you today about what would be a desirable role of the Emperor in a time when the Emperor, too, becomes advanced in age. While, being in the position of the Emperor, I must refrain from making any specific comments on the existing Imperial system, I would like to tell you what I, as an individual, have been thinking about.

在社會老齡化日益嚴重的情況下，當天皇也已屆高齡，何種狀態纔是理想的？站在天皇立場上不具體觸及現行的天皇制度，但今天，我作爲個人，想談談至今爲止思考之事。

Ever since my accession to the throne, I have carried out the acts of the Emperor in matters of state, and at the same time I have spent my days searching for and contemplating on what is the desirable role of the Emperor, who is designated to be the symbol of the State by the Constitution of Japan. As one who has inherited a long tradition, I have always felt a deep sense of responsibility to protect this tradition. At the same time, in a nation and in a world which are constantly changing, I have continued to think to this day about how the Japanese Imperial Family can put its traditions to good use in the present age and be an active and inherent part of society, responding to the expectations of the people.

即位以來，我在履行國事行爲的同時，關於日本國憲法下被定位爲象徵天皇的理想狀態，每天都在摸索中度過。作爲傳統的繼承者，我深感繼續守護傳統的責任，處在日新月異的日本和世界之中，日本的皇室如何將傳統寓於現代、使之鮮活地融合於社會並滿足人們的期待，對此我思考至今。

It was some years ago, after my two surgeries that I began to feel a decline in my fitness level because of my advancing age, and I started to think about the pending future, how I should conduct myself should it become difficult for me to carry out my heavy duties in the way I have been doing, and what would be best for the country, for the people, and also for the Imperial Family members who will follow after me. I am already 80 years old, and fortunately I am now in good health. However, 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.

在這一過程中，幾年前我2次接受外科手術，加之因高齡感到體力減退之時起，我開始思考：今後，當出現難以像以往那樣履行繁重公務時，應當如何安置自身，對國家、對國民，以及對我身後的皇族而言纔是適當的方式。我已逾80，儘管可說尚幸健康，但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。

In coping with the aging of the Emperor, I think it is not possible to continue reducing perpetually the Emperor's acts in matters of state and his duties as the symbol of the State. A Regency may be established to act in the place of the Emperor when the Emperor cannot fulfill his duties for reasons such as he is not yet of age or he is seriously ill. Even in such cases, however, it does not change the fact that the Emperor continues to be the Emperor till the end of his life, even though he is unable to fully carry out his duties as the Emperor.

伴隨天皇趨於高齡的應對方式，無限縮小國事行爲及作爲象徵天皇的行爲或許很難。此外，因天皇未成年或病重等無法發揮應有的作用時，可考慮設置代行天皇行爲的攝政。但是，即使是這樣，天皇持續不能充分履行理應完成的公務，直到生命終結其作爲天皇的身份始終不會改變。

When the Emperor has ill health and his condition becomes serious, I am concerned that, as we have seen in the past, society comes to a standstill and people's lives are impacted in various ways. The practice in the Imperial Family has been that the death of the Emperor called for events of heavy mourning, continuing every day for two months, followed by funeral events which continue for one year. These various events occur simultaneously with events related to the new era, placing a very heavy strain on those involved in the events, in particular, the family left behind. It occurs to me from time to time to wonder whether it is possible to prevent such a situation.

當天皇健康狀態嚴重不佳時，如以前曾出現的那樣，有可能導致社會停滯、給國民的生活也帶來各種影響。而且作爲至今爲止的皇室慣例，天皇過世之後，連日舉行的隆重殯葬儀式將持續近兩個月，之後與喪葬有關的儀式會長達一年。這一系列儀式及與新時代相關的各種事項同時進行，因此與之相關的人們，尤其是天皇的家人不得已將處於非常艱難的狀況。難道不能避免這樣的事態嗎？這一想法也不時縈繞於心。

As I said in the beginning, under the Constitution, the Emperor does not have powers related to government. Even under such circumstances, it is my hope that by thoroughly reflecting on our country's long history of emperors, the Imperial Family can continue to be with the people at all times and can work together with the people to build the future of our country, and 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.

正如開頭所說，根據憲法，天皇沒有參與國政之權能。這種情況下，此次在重新回顧我國漫長的天皇曆史的同時，衷心祈願今後無論何時皇室都能與國民同在、攜手共築這個國家的未來，以及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。

I sincerely hope for your understanding.

懇切希望能夠得到國民的理解。