Panel begins to study emperor's possible abdication

Experts on a government-commissioned panel held their first meeting on Monday to study how to accommodate Emperor Akihito's apparent abdication wish, in a country where he is not supposed to say anything political.

Unlike many European countries where abdication of kings and queens are relatively common, Japan's modern imperial law doesn't allow abdication, and Japan's postwar constitution stipulates the emperor as a mere "symbol" with no political power or say.

Allowing Akihito to abdicate would be a major change to the system, and raises a series of legal and logistical questions, ranging from laws subject to change to the emperor's post-abdication role, his title and residence.