Despite his advancing age, he still leads an active lifestyle, particularly in scientific research on goby fish.
What you should know
Japan's former Emperor Akihito's heart condition is stable, palace officials said, as he celebrated his 92nd birthday in a quiet atmosphere on Tuesday. His condition is now under control after health concerns earlier this year, the Imperial Household Agency said.
Emperor Naruhito's father, Akihito, was diagnosed with a heart condition in May. But his health has been stable since July after starting new medication, the agency said in a statement.
Despite his advancing age, he still leads an active lifestyle. He is particularly interested in scientific research on goby fish. He has identified 10 new species in this field so far. According to the agency, he visits the biology laboratory inside the palace compound twice a week.
Akihito, who took the title of 'Emperor Emeritus' after abdicating in 2019, is expected to celebrate his birthday with his family and welcome distinguished guests including Japanese Prime Minister Sane Takaichi.
Akihito, who has a sensitive view of Japan's wartime history, has repeatedly prayed for the victims of the war and the living witnesses who endured the hardships this year on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. He has conveyed a message of peace while remembering the pain of the past.
Former Emperor Akihito and Empress Emerita Michiko observed a moment of silence on four major dates related to the war 80 years ago—the end of the Battle of Okinawa, the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and the day of Japan's surrender. He also expressed the view that the war fought in the name of his father, Emperor Hirohito, should never be forgotten.
In August, Akihito and his wife Michiko arrived in the Karuizawa resort in central Japan. It is here that he was forced to temporarily relocate as a child during the war and where the couple later began their love affair.
