高二英語閱讀：日本明治天皇演說透露退位想法
在我們的認知中，英國的伊麗莎白女王還算熟悉，但是日本明治天皇就顯得低調很多。最近，現年82歲的明治天皇發表了電視演說，談話中透露出因年邁打算退位的想法。
一起來關心一下此次天皇演說的詳細內容吧!
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，在其第二次面向公眾的電視講話中，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.
由于不能發布政治聲明，明仁天皇并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”對待天皇的講話并商討可行措施。
"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么。”
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年去世后成為日本天皇，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.
在預先錄制好的10分鐘講話里，他說自己“開始反思”作為天皇的時光，并考慮自己將來的位置。
Why can't the emperor abdicate?
為什么天皇不能退位?
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.
日本現行法律中并未提及退位事宜，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?
民眾怎么看?
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為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于女性能否繼承皇位的爭論。皇室有男孩降生后，爭論得以擱置。
What does the emperor do?
天皇做些什么?
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里種植和收割莊稼，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年光格天皇退位之后，首次有日本天皇退位。
(責任編輯：彭海芝)
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