Tokyo – Emperor Emeritus Akihito, 91, is scheduled to be admitted to the university of Tokyo Hospital on Tuesday for extensive heart examinations, according to Japan’s public broadcaster NHK, citing the Imperial Household Agency.

The decision follows the detection of signs indicating myocardial ischemia during a routine health check last month. Myocardial ischemia is a condition characterized by reduced blood flow to the heart muscle.

Akihito’s Health History and Abdication

Akihito’s health has been a subject of public interest, especially as he underwent heart bypass surgery seven years prior to his abdication. He cited health concerns as a primary reason for stepping down from the throne.

Prior to his abdication, Akihito also received treatment for prostate cancer, further underscoring the health challenges he faced during his later years on the throne.

A Modernizing Monarch

Akihito, who ascended to the throne in 1989 following the death of his father, Emperor Hirohito, is remembered for his efforts to modernize the monarchy and connect with the Japanese people.

He was the first Japanese emperor to marry a commoner,speak directly to his subjects on television,and actively participate in raising his children. These actions represented a meaningful departure from traditional imperial practices.

A man prepared to break with tradition

The Role of the Emperor in Japan

The emperor holds a ceremonial but highly revered position within Japan’s constitutional monarchy. The Japanese monarchy is the oldest hereditary monarchy globally, with a history spanning 14 centuries.