Okada wants emperor to use own words at Diet opening ceremony

Friday 23rd October, 12:57 PM JST

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timorborder at 02:57 PM JST - 23rd October

Interesting concept this one. It seems like the new government is rather intent on taking power out of the hands of bureaucrats. Moreover, this argument regarding His Imperial Highness is rather ingenious, because the Emperor's minders (faceless bureaucrats) don't want to be put on the spot and be revealed as people who are actually pulling the strings.
Stonefish at 03:08 PM JST - 23rd October

Would the emporor have feelings after all these years?
kweto at 03:08 PM JST - 23rd October

We have been given the same message every time except for immediately after large disasters

Well, no recent disaster for Japan any larger than then new Hatoyama government and cabinet. Latest super-duper WTFs: Okada's offer to Karzai to provide job training for the Taliban, and, worse yet, backpedaling on their pre-election "no amakudari" promise to instead appoint as head of Japan Post the "Don of the bureaucratic alumni", Saito Jiro.

So, dear Emperor, seems ok to give half-baked Okada what he deserves!
Junnama at 04:19 PM JST - 23rd October

This Okada guy has been making alot of waves recently...
hanadecaka at 05:50 PM JST - 23rd October

Its feel real democracy what Okada said.
Potsu at 05:57 PM JST - 23rd October

Wonder if he can actually speak without a pre-written speech ?
cadmium at 10:09 PM JST - 23rd October

One does not simply make demands of the emperor...

On a serious note, asking the emperor to express his feelings would only result in the emperor asking the Imperial Household Agency what his feelings should be and then repeating them.
mousepotato464 at 10:10 PM JST - 23rd October

Putting the Emperor under a lot of pressure.
ilcub76 at 11:12 PM JST - 23rd October

Can the man (emperor) think for himself? Or has he been so indoctrinated over the years to only speak what the Imperial Household Agency tells him? The emperor cannot technically speak for himself, as it will influence anything he says, e.g. beer vs. whiskey.
eigonosensei at 11:22 PM JST - 23rd October

Whoa! Promoting independent thought at the top. Hopefully it will trickle down to the masses.
BurakuminDes at 11:27 PM JST - 23rd October

Why we dont get rid of the rubber stamp family all together? Is just a relic of the past preserved for please the remanents of the imperialism in the LDP.

You'd better watch it Mareo2! Last time the issue of Monarchy reared it's head on JT, loads of bloggers jumped on my anti-monarchist views, expressing such opinions as "Royal Families are born to rule", "Common people can't possibly be a figurehead" blah blah blah. Loads of ultra-conservatives lurk on JT...beware!
usaexpat at 11:33 PM JST - 23rd October

Own words pshhaw, that's what speech writers are for.
Speed at 12:11 AM JST - 24th October

Good on Okada for suggesting this. I too would like to hear something said by the emperor that may be a bit more "authentic" and original than the usual imperial household agency's tired prompts.
JHansen at 02:35 AM JST - 24th October

The reason to keep the Imperial tradition alive is to ensure that there is an anchor in Japanese culture. Destroying the ancient line to satisfy some progressive whim would only cheapen Japan in the long run.
bdiego at 08:36 AM JST - 24th October

Good suggestion! Along the lines of what's happening with the British Monarchy these days. Every country has their relics and tradition.