AKIPRESS.COM - A panel in Japan has begun discussions on the possible abdication of Emperor Akihito, BBC reports.

The 82-year-old emperor said in July that his age was making it hard for him to fulfill his duties.

Abdication is not mentioned under Japan's existing laws, so they will need to be changed to allow him to stand down from the role.

The six-member advisory panel to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe aims to submit legislation as early as May next year.

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

If he does abdicate, it would be the first time a Japanese emperor has done so since 1817. Current laws only mention that an heir will accede to the throne in the event of the emperor's death.

Emperor Akihito has not explicitly say he wants to abdicate, as he is barred from making political statements.

But Abe previously stated that the government would discuss what could be done about the emperor's wishes.

"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 in August this year.

The advisory panel will meet several times this year, discussing issues such as legislating abdication and changes to the emperor's official duties.

A summary of issues by the panel could be released as soon as January 2017.