Reuters AlertNet Lite - Japan emperor resumes some work after health scare

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Japan emperor resumes some work after health scare

05 Dec 2008 07:04:38 GMT
Source: Reuters

TOKYO, Dec 5 (Reuters) - Japan's 74-year-old emperor resumed light duties at the Imperial Palace on Friday, the Imperial Household Agency said, a few days after his duties were cancelled because his blood pressure shot up.

Emperor Akihito, who had prostate cancer surgery in 2003 and was recently diagnosed with an irregular pulse, will undergo further medical checks and it is unclear when he will resume full duties such as attending official events, an official at the Imperial Household Agency said.

The ageing emperor, who reported chest abnormalities two weeks ago followed by a rise in blood pressure, cancelled his duties on Wednesday and Thursday, including a meeting with visiting Polish President Lech Kaczynski. [ID:nT299887]

Concerns have risen in the recent years on whether the load of official duties are too heavy for the ageing emperor, who came to throne two decades ago, and his wife, Empress Michiko.

Government officials and royal family members have called for a cutback in the workload of the emperor, who is kept busy greeting foreign dignitaries, traveling abroad, and making visits ranging from nursery schools and Japan's space agency to regions hit by disasters. [ID:nnT40408]

The emperor is considered a symbol of the state and has no political role.

A health check this year showed no recurrence of the emperor's prostate cancer, though a palace doctor had said he could develop osteoporosis.

Michiko has suffered bouts of dizziness and intestinal bleeding. (Reporting by Yoko Kubota; Editing by Rodney Joyce)

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