The Law for Special Exception of the Imperial House Law concerning Abdication, etc. of Emperor (天皇の退位等に関する皇室典範特例法), or in short Emperor Abdication Special Law (天皇退位特例法), is a Japanese law enacted for the abdication of Akihito, the 125th emperor of Japan.

The special law was enacted by the National Diet on 9 June 2017 after both houses passed the legislation. The law partially came into effect on 16 June 2017, and fully in effect on 1 May 2019 after the accession and enthronement of the new emperor, Naruhito.

According to the Imperial Household Law, the Emperor is "on throne until death". The Abdication Law, however, provides legal basis for the abdication of Akihito and the accession of his elder son, Crown Prince Naruhito, and was described by the Chief Cabinet Secretary as "setting up precedents for the future".

Akihito reportedly revealed his intention to abdicate on 22 July 2010 in a Palace Meeting, admitting his parents' illnesses in their later years, including cancer of Emperor Hirohito and dementia of Empress Nagako, had impacted him hugely.

NHK, a major Japanese public broadcaster, reported on 13 July 2016 and citing officials of Imperial Household Agency, that "His Majesty the Emperor had expressed his intention to abdicate for Crown Prince Naruhito in the coming few years". The Agency initially rejected the report as "impossible" and "unrealistic".

On 8 August, the Emperor made his second-ever televised address to the public. Akihito said his declining health means it is difficult to fulfil his duties, which strongly indicated his wish to abdicate as he was barred from making political statements according to the constitution. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said the government would take the remarks seriously and discuss what could be done.

The cabinet convened 14 meetings on "reducing the burden of Emperor's duties" in 2016 and 2017. On 21 April 2017, the final report of the meetings was published which recommended the enactment of new law by the National Diet. The proposed bill would allow Akihito to abdicate and be conferred the title of "Emperor Emeritus", while Empress Michiko, wife of Akihito, will be called "Empress Emeritus". Both will retain the title of "Majesty". The Imperial Household Agency will be reformed by creating "Department of Emperor Emeritus" and "Department of Crown Prince".

All parliamentary parties were invited to send representatives over drafting of the bill by virtue of Article 1 of the Constitution, which said "The Emperor shall be the symbol of the State and of the unity of the People, deriving his position from the will of the people with whom resides sovereign power."