Japan’s Emperor Emeritus Akihito, 91, is set to undergo hospitalisation for cardiac evaluations following irregularities detected during a routine medical check-up, according to reports from Japanese media on Monday.
The Imperial Household Agency, unavailable for comment due to a national holiday, has yet to confirm the details publicly.
Kyodo News reported that Akihito would be admitted to the University of Tokyo Hospital from Tuesday for further assessment. The retired monarch, who abdicated in 2019 – the first Japanese emperor to do so in over two centuries – has a documented history of cardiovascular issues. In 2012, he underwent successful heart bypass surgery.
Akihito, father of the reigning Emperor Naruhito, ascended the Chrysanthemum Throne in 1989 following the death of his father, Emperor Hirohito. His reign, marked by efforts to reconcile Japan’s imperial legacy with post-war pacifism, broke longstanding traditions.
In 1959, he became the first emperor to marry a commoner, Empress Michiko, reshaping public perceptions of the monarchy. His 2019 abdication, citing advancing age and declining health, paved the way for Naruhito’s accession under revised imperial laws.
