THE ASAHI SHIMBUN
July 14, 2025 at 18:09 JST
Accompanied by Empress Emerita Michiko, Akihito entered the hospital at around 3:30 p.m. (Shota Tomonaga)
Emperor Emeritus Akihito entered the University of Tokyo Hospital in Bunkyo Ward of the capital on July 14 as a precaution to monitor his condition while taking a different oral heart medicine.
During a stay at the same hospital in May, the 91-year-old Akihito was diagnosed with silent myocardial ischemia, a disorder where blood flow from coronary arteries to the heart muscle is reduced but the patient does not have subjective symptoms.
According to the Imperial Household Agency, Akihito had restricted his fluid intake, avoided strenuous exercise and had been taking prescribed medicine to improve blood flow.
But because there was no improvement in symptoms, doctors prescribed another oral medicine to lighten the burden on his heart.
Because the new drug can cause arrhythmic heartbeat as a side effect, hospitalization was decided on to monitor the emperor emeritus’ electrocardiogram.
Prior to the May diagnosis, Akihito was diagnosed with right cardiac failure in 2022.
A peek through the music industry’s curtain at the producers who harnessed social media to help their idols go global.
A series based on diplomatic documents declassified by Japan’s Foreign Ministry
Here is a collection of first-hand accounts by “hibakusha” atomic bomb survivors.
Cooking experts, chefs and others involved in the field of food introduce their special recipes intertwined with their paths in life.
A series about Japanese-Americans and their memories of World War II
