By AYAKO NAKADA/ Staff Writer
May 7, 2025 at 14:23 JST
Emperor Emeritus Akihito, left, heads to the University of Tokyo Hospital on May 6, accompanied by Empress Emerita Michiko. (Minako Yoshimoto)
Emperor Emeritus Akihito has been hospitalized for tests following concerns about the condition of his heart, according to the Imperial Household Agency.
The 91-year-old was admitted to the University of Tokyo Hospital on May 6 after doctors detected signs of myocardial ischemia, a condition where blood flow from coronary arteries to the heart muscle is reduced.
Akihito left his residence in central Tokyo in the afternoon, accompanied by Empress Emerita Michiko. The couple arrived at the hospital around 3 p.m., appearing calm as they entered.
Doctors at the hospital are now conducting detailed tests, including stress assessments, to evaluate his heart and coronary arteries. The length of his hospital stay will depend on the results.
The condition was first suspected during a routine checkup on April 15, when an electrocardiogram showed abnormalities.
While Akihito has not experienced any symptoms, his medical team recommended further testing due to his age.
Officials said Akihito remained calm and composed after being briefed by his physician.
Akihito stepped down from the Chrysanthemum Throne in 2019, becoming Japan’s first emperor to abdicate in more than two centuries. He has since lived a quieter life, occasionally appearing at public events.
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