I don't think Abe, who is a staunch nationalist, is particularly keen on this abdication-thing, and certainly not interested in any further debate. So I think he has resigned to this particular issue and simply want to get it over with as soon as possible. - And preferably as quietly as possible!
And in that respect he can (regrettably IMO) count on the Japanese media.
The Japanese media, especially the public service media, is not critical of the government! There is a strong Japanese tradition of the authorities know best.
That means Japanese media aim for consensus rather than diverting opinions. That trait is very much ingrained in the Japanese national character. I.e. you conform to the group, no matter what you may think privately.
It was very much evident during the tsunami and the radioactive fall-out. Fall-out that polluted agricultural products (albeit a low grade of pollution) which were among other places, served in schools.
Such a thing would cause an
uproar in practically any other country on the globe - but not in Japan.
The government, the authorities, the rest of the societies, said it was okay, so people may have been apprehensive personally, but conformed and ate the products...
I know of at least one case where a mother was communally chastised because she left Japan (Tokyo in this case) until she had a better view of the situation. - She was chastised because she left the group (i.e. Japan) for selfish reasons (to protect her children), rather than stay put like everybody else.
The Emperor voiced his concern, discreetly, in a speech in India. And that was reported by the Indian media - but
not by the Japanese media.
To suggest that the authorities do not have the situation under control, is almost subversive. It's expressing a loss of faith in the group, of Japan. Not having full control of the situation (in this case radioactive contaminated products served to children!) is a loss of face and you betray the group by suggesting otherwise.
Japan is a very consensus and group oriented society, where the interest of the group, of the society, far outweigh the interest of the individual.
That also explains to some degree the dismissive, almost angry, reaction some have to the Emperor's wish to abdicate. - He is putting his own interests above the group, above the consensus of the group. He is creating diversion instead of consensus, in a society which for practical reasons put consensus very high and presenting a face (or facade if you will) of unity towards the rest of the world.
He is rocking the boat. You don't rock the boat in Japan!
That's why Japan and the Japanese is such an endlessly fascinating culture and sometimes extremely difficult to understand.