This week kicked off with an unprecedented live message from Emperor Akihito announcing his wish to abdicate. Attention is brought once again to the Senkakus, with the arrival of over 200 Chinese vessels around the islands creating a charged atmosphere in the region. Abe reshuffled the Cabinet, and many of the members share a commonality. Tensions run high between Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike and Olympics Minister Tamayo Marukawa, which could spell trouble for the Tokyo Games.