There are views that say abdication before death should be allowed, based on respect for the Emperor's free will and the existence of former examples, but there are strong opposing views because of the issues of how the Emperor should be treated after his abdication (financial matters and issues on his position in the political administration. The latter, in particular, is a problem of political administration by the retired emperor), complications in the succession to the Imperial Throne, and the possibility of the extinction of the Imperial Line due to the lack of a successor.
これについて、先例の存在や天皇の自由意思を尊重するべきであることを理由として生前の退位を容認すべきとの意見もあるが、退位後の天皇の処遇（財政的、政治的位置付けの問題。特に後者は院政の問題）や皇位継承の複雑化及び後継者の不足による皇統断絶の可能性などの点から反対の意見が強い。