Now the former head of state has been hospitalized. / Emeritus Emperor Akihito is in the hospital
Japan’s Emeritus Emperor Akihito suffers from heart failure, according to the imperial family. However, his condition has been stable since he began his drug treatment, the palace said on Tuesday.
During a routine examination of the 88-year-old last month, an abnormal enlargement of his heart and a pleural effusion – a collection of fluid between the inner wall of the chest and the lungs – were found. Further examinations in the hospital would have revealed that the right side of the heart was no longer working properly. “He is now being treated and is recovering,” said a spokesman for the AFP news agency.
Long medical record
The former monarch has had health problems for a long time. In 2003 he underwent surgery for prostate cancer, in 2012 he underwent bypass surgery and towards the end of his long tenure, which lasted from 1989 to 2019, he temporarily suffered from insufficient blood supply to the brain. In January 2020, he then briefly lost consciousness and collapsed, but “no abnormalities” were discovered during examinations.
In 2016, Akihito made headlines when he expressed a desire to step down from his imperial duties. He cited his advanced age and poor health as the reason. Since it had previously been compulsory for an emperor since the 19th century to remain in office until his death, new rules had to be created in order to make resignation possible. Negotiations with the government dragged on for almost a year. In 2019, Akihito abdicated and was seen off in a brief ceremony. His son Naruhito succeeded him on the chrysanthemum throne in Japan.
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