TOKYO: Japanese Emperor Emeritus Akihito, the father of Emperor Naruhito, turned 91 on Monday.

The Emperor Emeritus is spending his days regularly, quietly and calmly while caring for Empress Emerita Michiko, 90, who broke her right thighbone in October.

He reads newspapers every morning and evening and watches television news during meals to keep an eye on domestic and international trends, according to aides.

Emperor Emeritus Akihito is especially concerned about the lives of people affected by an earthquake and heavy rain that hit the Noto Peninsula in central Japan earlier this year.

He looked very concerned when the Empress Emerita broke her bone. He greeted her and extended his hand to her when she returned to the Sento Imperial Residence from hospital on Oct. 13.

The Empress Emerita has recovered to the point where she can walk without using a stick. Starting this month, the couple take a walk in the morning and evening together.

Emperor Emeritus Akihito watches documentary programs about World War II around the anniversary of the end of the war as the memories of the war and his daily life are deeply connected even at present.

He also continues his research on the classification of goby at the Imperial Palace.

The Emperor Emeritus showed his deep sorrow for the death of his aunt Princess Yuriko at the age of 101 in November.

While supporting Empress Emerita Michiko, who was walking with a stick, he visited the residence of the princess four times to express his condolences.

Princess Yuriko’s death made the Emperor Emeritus the oldest member of the Imperial Family.

In July 2022, Emperor Emeritus Akihito was diagnosed with right heart failure, and his level of B-type natriuretic peptide, a heart failure biomarker, is still slightly high at present.

He also has a small amount of pleural effusion, but his condition remains relatively stable through medical treatment such as taking drugs and restricting fluid intake.

JIJI Press